A Cross-Sectional

Study on Rabies in
Cavite

INTRODUCTION
Rabies
Since at least 500 B.C., rabies has been the
subject of myths and legends across time and
cultures.
Cases declined over decades but still it
continues to be feared today.
an acute, progressive viral encephalomyelitis
that principally affects carnivores and bats,
although it can affect any mammal.
Cont..
Fatal.
Found throughout the world.

EPIDEMIOLOGY
Virus
caused by lyssaviruses in the Rhabdovirus family
Lyssaviruses are usually confined to one major
reservoir species in a given geographic area,
although spillover to other species is common.
Identification of different virus variants by
laboratory procedures such as monoclonal
antibody analysis or genetic sequencing has
greatly enhanced understanding of rabies
epidemiology.
Cont.
Generally, each virus variant is responsible for
rabies virus transmission between members of
the same species in a given geographic area.
The incubation period ranges from 10 days to
more than a year, depending on the entry site.
Signs and Symptoms
Rabies infection characteristically produces a
rapidly progressive encephalomyelitis
early symptoms are fever, headache, and loss
of appetite that are nonspecific. After a while
the patient becomes restless and disoriented
and may experience seizures.
Hydrophobic


Cont.
Coma and death usually follow 3 to 20 days
after the onset of symptoms.
Once symptoms have appeared, treatment is
limited to sedatives and painkillers.
Rabies is primarily a disease of non-human
animals. It is a zoonotic infection, which
means it is passed to humans by animals. It
appears that any mammal species can develop
rabies.

The prevalence of rabies in specific animal
species varies greatly by geographical region.
Knowing which animals are most likely to be
rabid in a given location is essential to
implementing appropriate preventive and
post exposure measures.
Reservoirs of rabies vary throughout the
world.
All rabies reservoirs are also vectors of the
virus, but not all vectors are reservoirs
In the Philippines, rabies continues to be a
public health problem.
country is one of the top 10 countries with
rabies problem
Animal bite cases have been increasing for the
past 5 years
Dogs remain the principal cause
WHO
UPDATES ON DIAGNOSIS
Classical Diagnostic Tools and
Techniques

Animal Observation
Histochemical Techniques and Direct
Microscopy
Viral Antigen Detection
Virus Isolation and Indirect RABV detection

Current and Advanced Diagnostic
Tools and Techniques

Due to the innovation in molecular biology
and biotechnology through the development
of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Enzyme-
Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and
Chromatography, the RABV diagnostic tools
and techniques became more advanced, cost-
effective, time-saving, and more sensitive.

nucleic acid-based detection:

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain
Reaction (RT-PCR)
Nested Reverse Transcription Polymerase
Chain Reaction (NRT-PCR)
TaqMan Real-Time Reverse Transcription-
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification
(NASBA)
Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated
Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP)

Protocols for RABV antigen detection have
also advance that employs
immunochromatography (Rapid
Immunodiagnostic Test, RIDT) and ELISA
(WELYSSA).
Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT
Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT)
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Lists:
Vaccines
Keep dogs and cats under control.
Animal control law
Leave stray or unknown dogs and cats alone
Avoid wild animals even if they appear
friendly, and do not coax a wild animal to eat
from your hand.
Cont..
Do not fear wild animals, just respect and stay
away from them.
Do not keep wild animals as pets
Make your property unattractive to wild
animals
Feed your pets indoors and keep trash cans
tightly closed.
Intervention strategies of the City of
Dasmarias:
Rabies shots are given to dogs every office
hours whole year round at the Veterinary
Office.
post-exposure treatment program
Municipal Ordinance No. 2000-004
ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
Despite the establishment on various policies
to control rabies, it continues to be a
significant cause of human and animal deaths
not just in the Philippines, but in many parts
of the world. ASEAN rabies experts identified
logistics, sociocultural factors and resources as
major roadblocks in achieving the goal of
completely eliminating the disease by 2020.
Logistics
rabies remains a neglected disease in most
countries of the South-East Asian region
perception of policymakers
lack of support and commitment from local Chief
Executives
increasing number of dogs and cats roaming the
streets
lack of awareness on rabies prevention and
control
lack of support from other sectors.

Sociocultural
Philippines, the Dog Meat Eating Country
- aside from being pet and accompanion it extends
to our stomachs, branding our country, the Dog
Meat Eating Country. The Bureau of Animal Industry
chief noted that this trade may involve health
issues, risking possible rabies and other bacterial
infection due to the unsanitary and inhumane
handling of the animal. During transport, the dogs
feet are tied together behind their backs and
mouths muzzled making it impossible for them to
breathe properly, killing them, even before they
reach their destination,

Cont..
Cultural beliefs
- garlic and a few drops of vinegar
- Quack doctor
Status
- It is the poorest of the population that are
most at risk of exposure and death from rabies,
and this segment of society is often overlooked.

Resources

Another constraint of rabies control here in
the Philippines is the limited funding for
project implementation.

end
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