SCREENING OF DOGS FOR RABIES VIRUS EXCRETION

Abstract

Five hundred dogs, belonging to various categories viz., healthy (vaccinated and non-vaccinated), sick (vaccinated and nonvaccinated) and stray, were screened for the possible excretion of rabies virus in an enzootic area in Thrissur, Kerala. These dogs were screened by detecting rabies viral antigen in salivary smears and corneal mpression smears using direct fluorescent antibody test. The study revealed no non fatal, chronic orabortive rabies infections in dogs. No dogs could be detected with persistent rabies viral excretion without succumbing to rabies

Keywords

• rabies virus excretion
• dogs
• screening