SCREENING OF DOGS FOR POSSIBLE RABIES VIRUS EXCRETION
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Date
2004
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES Mannuthy - Thrissur
Abstract
Five hundred dogs, belonging to various categories viz., healthy (vaccinated
and non vaccinated), sick (vaccinated and non vaccinated) and stray dogs, were
screened for the possible excretion of rabies virus in an enzootic area in Trichur,
Kerala, based on the observation that nonfatal rabies occurs among dog populations
in enzootic or epizootic areas. The criterion selected for the screening of dogs was
detection of rabies virus antigen in comeal impression or saliva using fluorescent
antibody test. None of the 500 dogs was found positive for rabies viral excretion in
saliva or comeal impression. The validity of the test was periodically tested with
salivary swabs from rabid dogs that were brought with clinical signs suggestive of
rabies. Of twelve dogs thus examined, four were positive in saliva and two were
positive in comeal impression test. One dog was positive in both comeal impression
and saliva. All the twelve dogs died and rabies was diagnosed by Fluorescent
antibody test. Brain samples from sixty-six suspected dogs brought to the
department of pathology were subjected to fluorescent antibody test and forty-nineanimals found positive for rabies. The results were confirmed positive using
polymerase chain reaction. Thus in the present study no evidence of non fatal,
abortive or chronic rabies could be detected among dogs in the study or control
group.
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