Management of Rabid Dog bites

The rabies virus is highly resistant against cold, dryness and decay. In cadavers, it remains infectious for weeks. This virus is highly thermo-labile with a half-life of approximately 4 hours at 40ºC and 35 seconds at 60ºC.

 In brain tissue at room temperature it can survive up to 1-2 weeks. The rabies virus remains stable for several days at 0-4ºC, indefinitely at -70ºC and when freeze dried. The virus cannot withstand pH less than 4 or more than 10. It is also susceptible to the action of oxidizing agents, most organic solvents, surface acting agents, and quaternary ammonium compounds. Proteolytic enzymes, ultraviolet rays and X-rays rapidly inactivate rabies virus. Soaps and detergents are effective against rabies virus because of their lipid eliminating property, which destroys the outer envelope of the virus.

➡️Excretion of rabies virus

Virus is excreted by the rabid animal mainly in saliva. It is present in the saliva of the dogs for 2-3 days before the appearance of clinical features. It remains in the saliva till the animal dies. Death usually occurs within one week of onset of clinical manifestations.

➡️Mode of transmission

Rabies virus is predominantly neurotropic and kills the host in short period after it has entered the neurons. Before death, from the brain virus reaches salivary glands and is excreted in saliva. The saliva gains entry into another host through licking or contamination is adequate or the bite of the rabid animal creates a mechanical breach of skin through which the rabies virus gains entry. Virus may be present in the saliva for many days before clinical signs appear and it may be steadily or intermittently secreted until just before death. Report of pre-clinical periods of virus secretion in saliva range from 3 days in cats, 12 days in Mexican free tail bats, 14 days in dogs infected with an Ethiopian virus isolate to 29 days in foxes. Infection has been documented in personnel receiving corneal grafts and organs from rabies cases.