Rhabdoviridae is a family of negative-strand RNA viruses in the order Mononegavirales. Vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants serve as natural hosts. Diseases associated with member viruses include rabies encephalitis caused by the rabies virus, and flu-like symptoms in humans caused by vesiculoviruses.

1. RHABDO VIRUS
Prasanna R Kovath
Assistant Professor
Department of Biotechnology
St. Mary's College Thrissur

2. • Rabies is a zoonotic disease (a disease that is transmitted to humans
from animals) that is caused by a virus.
• Rabies infects domestic and wild animals, and is spread to people
through close contact with infected saliva (via bites or scratches).
• The disease is present on nearly every continent of the world but most
human deaths occur in Asia and Africa (more than 95%).

3.  Family: Rhabdoviridae
 Genus: Lyssavirus
 Species: Rabies
 virus bullet-shaped,
 ~180 nm long and ~75 nm wide
 single-strand,negative sense RNA
 Has Lipoprotein envelop
 Knob like spikes /Glycoprotein
 Multiply in cytoplasm

4. RESISTANCE
 The virus is sensitive to Ethanol Iodine Soap / Detergents Ether,
Chloroform, Acetone Destroyed at 500 c in 1 hour at 600 c in 5
minutes.
ANTIGENIC PROPERTIES
 Surface spikes composed of Glycoprotein G
Produces Pathogenicity by binding to Acetyl choline receptors in the
neural tissue
Stimulate T lymphocytes Cytotoxic effect.

6. TYPES OF RABIES VIRUS

7. All mammals are susceptible to Rabies
 Cattle, cats & foxes – Highly susceptible.
 Skunks, opossums & fowl – relatively resistent.
 Humans & dogs occupy an intermediate position.
 Pups more susceptible than adults.
 Experimental infection can be produced in any lab.
Animal but mice is choice.

11. RABIES IN DOGS
• Incubation period: 3-8 wks.
• Clinical features: Rabies in dogs may manifest itself in two forms.
• FURIOUS RABIES
• This the typical mad-dog syndrome characterized by.
• i. change in behavior.
• ii. Tendency to run away from home, wander aimlessly and biting
humans and animals.
• iii. Change in voice due to paralysis of laryngeal muscles.
• iv. Excessive salivation & foaming at the angle of the mouth.
• v. Paralysis of the whole body leading to coma & death.

12. • DUMB RABIES
• i. The excitative or irrigative stage is lacking.
• ii. The disease is predominantly paralytic.
• iii. Dog withdraws itself from being seen or disturbed.
• iv. It elapses into a stage of sleepiness and dies in about 3 days.

17.  Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG)
 Two types of RIG – – Human RIG, dose 20 IU/kg of body
weight Equine RIG,
 dose 40 IU/kg of body weight RIG provides passive immunity
 5 doses (0,3,7,14,&,28 days) for 1st exposure
 Subsequent exposure will require only 2 doses of ARV (0 & 3
days)