Canine rabies: An epidemiological significance, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and public health issues

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 2023-06, Vol.97, p.101992-101992, Article 101992
• Main Authors: Kumar, Anil, Bhatt, Sonam, Kumar, Ankesh, Rana, Tanmoy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bites and Stings - veterinary; Canines; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - prevention & control; Dogs; Humans; Mammals; Prevention; Public Health; Rabies; Rabies - diagnosis; Rabies - epidemiology; Rabies - prevention & control; Rabies - veterinary; Rabies Vaccines; Rabies virus - physiology; Review; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.101992

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by rabies virus of the genus Lyssa virus and family Rhabdoviridae. It affects all mammals and is prevalent throughout the world and endemic in many countries except in Islands like Australia and Antarctica. It is highly fatal, but preventable. Disease causes threat to public health because rabid dogs bite humans, resulting in thousands of deaths every year. Around 59,000 people die every year from rabies in the world. Dogs play a vital role in most of the human exposure in rabies endemic areas. Transmission of virus occurs through the bite of an infected dog. Disease is manifested by fatal nervous symptoms leading to paralysis and death. Direct fluorescent antibody technique is the gold standard for the diagnosis of the disease in animals and humans. Prevention of rabies involves the vaccination of dogs and humans before or after an exposure. This review describes the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, its prevention and control strategies. •Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by rabies virus.•It affects all mammalsand is prevalent throughout the world and endemic.•Disease causes threat to public health.•Dogs play a vital role in most of the human exposure.