Mammals Rabies in animals

1 mammals

1.1 bats
1.2 coyotes
1.3 cats
1.4 rabbits
1.5 dogs
1.6 horses
1.7 opossums
1.8 skunks
1.9 wolves
1.10 foxes
1.11 monkeys
1.12 other small mammals

mammals
bats

bat-transmitted rabies occurs throughout north , south america first closely studied in trinidad in west indies. island experiencing significant toll of livestock , humans alike rabid bats. in 10 years 1925 , 1935, 89 people , thousands of livestock had died it—“the highest human mortality rabies-infected bats far recorded anywhere.”

in 1931, dr. joseph lennox pawan of trinidad in west indies, government bacteriologist, found negri bodies in brain of bat unusual habits. in 1932, dr. pawan discovered infected vampire bats transmit rabies humans , other animals. in 1934, trinidad , tobago government began program of eradicating vampire bats, while encouraging screening off of livestock buildings , offering free vaccination programs exposed livestock.

after opening of trinidad regional virus laboratory in 1953, arthur greenhall demonstrated @ least 8 species of bats in trinidad had been infected rabies; including common vampire bat, rare white-winged vampire bat, 2 abundant species of fruit bats: seba s short-tailed bat , jamaican fruit bat.

coyotes

rabies common in coyotes , can cause concern if interact humans.

cats

rabies common in cats. in united states between 200-300 cases reported annually. cats have not been vaccinated , allowed access outdoors have risk contracting rabies may come in contact rabid animals. virus passed on during fights between cats or other animals , transmitted bites, saliva or through mucous membranes , fresh wounds. virus can incubate 1 day on year before symptoms begin show. symptoms have rapid onset , can include unusual aggression, restlessness, lethargy, anorexia, weakness, disorientation, paralysis , seizures. prevent rabies in outdoor cats important vaccinate , booster felines trusted veterinarian licensed rabies vaccine.

rabbits

despite natural infection of rabbits being rare, particularly vulnerable rabies virus; rabbits used develop first rabies vaccine louis pasteur in 1880s, , continued used rabies diagnostic testing. virus contracted when attacked other rabid animals , can incubate within rabbit 2–3 weeks. symptoms include weakness in limbs, head tremors, low appetite, nasal discharge, , death within 3–4 days. however, there no vaccines available rabbits. national institutes of health recommends rabbits kept indoors or enclosed in hutches outside not allow other animals come in contact them.

dogs

an image 1566 depicting group of men using assortment of weapons try , kill rabid dog biting 1 of men on leg.

rabies has long history of association dogs. first written record of rabies in codex of eshnunna (ca. 1930 bc), dictates owner of dog showing symptoms of rabies should take preventive measure against bites. if person bitten rabid dog , later died, owner fined heavily.

three stages of rabies recognized in dogs. first stage one- three-day period characterized behavioral changes , known prodromal stage. second stage excitative stage, lasts 3 4 days. stage known furious rabies due tendency of affected dog hyperreactive external stimuli , bite @ near. third stage paralytic stage , caused damage motor neurons. incoordination seen due rear limb paralysis , drooling , difficulty swallowing caused paralysis of facial , throat muscles. death caused respiratory arrest.

horses

rabies can contracted in horses if interact rabid animals in pasture, being bitten on muzzle or lower limbs. signs include aggression, incoordination, head-pressing, circling, lameness, muscle tremors, convulsions, colic , fever. horses experience paralytic form of rabies have difficulty swallowing, , drooping of lower jaw due paralysis of throat , jaw muscles. incubation of virus may range 2–9 weeks. death occurs within 4–5 days of infection of virus. there no effective treatments rabies in horses. veterinarians recommend initial vaccination foal @ 3 months of age, repeated @ 1 year , given annual booster.

opossums

experimental studies of rabies infection in virginia opossum have shown importance of mode of transmission. opossums became infected when exposed air-borne virus found resistant intramuscular inoculations. aerosol transmission of rabies in opossum investigated following death rabies of 2 men had visited frio caves, texas, , did not remember direct contact bats.

rabies cases in virginia opossum spillover cases other wildlife species such bats, skunks , raccoon epizootic in eastern united states. cases have been reported across united states california new york. in new york state, laboratory confirmed rabies cases in opossums occurred 5 of ten years between 1989 1999. recently, 2010 2014, rabid virginia opossums reported in new york city , states of new jersey, maryland, , virginia.

skunks

in u.s., there no usda-approved vaccine strain of rabies afflicts skunks. when cases reported of pet skunks biting human, animals killed in order tested rabies. has been reported 3 different variants of rabies exist in striped skunks in north , south central states.

humans exposed rabies virus must begin post-exposure prophylaxis before disease can progress central nervous system. reason, necessary determine whether animal, in fact, has rabies possible. without definitive quarantine period in place skunks, quarantining animals not advised there no way of knowing how long may take animal show symptoms. destruction of skunk recommended , brain tested presence of rabies virus.

skunk owners have organized campaign usda approval of both vaccine , officially recommended quarantine period skunks in united states.

wolves

under normal circumstances, wild wolves timid around humans, though there several reported circumstances in wolves have been recorded act aggressively toward humans. majority of fatal wolf attacks have historically involved rabies, first recorded in wolves in 13th century. earliest recorded case of actual rabid wolf attack comes germany in 1557. though wolves not reservoirs disease, can catch other species. wolves develop exceptionally severe aggressive state when infected , can bite numerous people in single attack. before vaccine developed, bites fatal. today, wolf bites can treated, severity of rabid wolf attacks can result in outright death, or bite near head make disease act fast treatment take effect.

rabid attacks tend cluster in winter , spring. reduction of rabies in europe , north america, few rabid wolf attacks have been recorded, though still occur annually in middle east. rabid attacks can distinguished predatory attacks fact rabid wolves limit biting victims rather consuming them. plus, timespan of predatory attacks can last months or years, opposed rabid attacks end after fortnight. victims of rabid wolves attacked around head , neck in sustained manner.

foxes

recently (probably late 90s, mentions in press) new symptoms of rabies of wild animals have been observed, namely in foxes. @ beginning of prodromal stage foxes, extremely cautious nature, absolutely lose wild instincts. animals come settlements, reach people, , behave if tame. how long such euphoria lasts not known. in such status animal extremely dangerous, saliva , excretions still contain virus.

monkeys

monkeys, humans, can rabies, not tend common source of rabies. monkeys rabies tend die more humans. in 1 study, 9 of 10 monkeys developed severe symptoms or died within 20 days of infection. rabies concern individuals travelling developing countries monkeys common source of rabies after dogs in these places.

other small mammals

the commonly infected terrestrial animals in u.s.a. raccoons, skunks, foxes, , coyotes. bites such wild animals must considered possible exposure rabies virus.

most cases of rabies in rodents reported centers disease control , prevention in u.s.a. have been found among groundhogs (woodchucks). small rodents such squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, , mice , lagomorphs rabbits , hares never found infected rabies , not known transmit rabies humans.

in united states, commonly reported rabid animal domestic cat. in every year since 1990, reported cases of rabies in cats have outnumbered cases of rabies in dogs.