Rabies

Rabies is an ancient disease and a fearsome one. Although it may not have the economic or public health importance of some other infectious diseases, few are so well known or carry the same emotional impact. Mainly transmitted by the bite of an enraged animal, and with practically no hope for recovery among those afflicted, it has provided the substance of stories and legends throughout the ages. The pioneering work of many 19th century workers, culminating in the development of the first rabies vaccines by Louis Pasteur, provided the ground work for the modern era in the study of rabies. Since then, and particularly in the last quarter century, considerable advances have been made in our knowledge of the nature of the infectious agent, its mode of transmission and pathogenetic mechanisms. Yet even today, much remains to be learned about the disease. For example, although effective vaccines exist for humans and other animals, there is still no known practical cure once the neurological disease symptoms develop. Markers of virulence have been mapped at the molecular level, but it is yet unclear as to how rabies virus actually exerts its pathological effects. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Understanding the Nature of Rabies: An Historical Perspective....Pages 1-23 Structure of Rabies Virus....Pages 25-45 Culture of Rabies Virus in Vitro ....Pages 47-66 Interactions of Rabies Virus and Host Cells....Pages 67-100 The Pathogenesis of Rabies....Pages 101-150 Genetic Control of Resistance to Rabies....Pages 151-161 Immune Responses to Rabies Virus: Vaccines and Natural Infection....Pages 163-176 Rabies-Related Viruses....Pages 177-199 Diagnosis of Rabies Infection....Pages 201-222 Serodiagnosis of Rabies: Antibody Tests....Pages 223-241 Epizootiology of Rabies: Eurasia and Africa....Pages 243-265 Epizootiology of Rabies: The Americas....Pages 267-299 Persistence of Rabies in Wildlife....Pages 301-322 Vaccines and Vaccination of Domestic Animals....Pages 323-333 Development of a Vaccinia-Rabies Glycoprotein Recombinant Virus Vaccine....Pages 335-364 Control of Wildlife Rabies: Europe....Pages 365-380 Control of Wildlife Rabies: The Americas....Pages 381-405 Control of Urban Rabies....Pages 407-422 Errata....Pages 433-433 Back Matter....Pages 423-431