Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Importation of canid rabies in a horse relocated from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
- Journal:
- The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Sabeta, C T & Randles, J L
- Affiliation:
- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In July 2003, a 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was brought from Harare, Zimbabwe, to a training center in South Africa. Five months later, the colt started showing signs that suggested he might have rabies, including uncoordinated movements, muscle tremors, and biting at himself. Tests on his brain tissue confirmed the diagnosis of rabies. Further analysis showed that the type of rabies virus he had came from an area in Zimbabwe where domestic dogs and side-striped jackals are known to carry the disease. Unfortunately, the treatment for rabies was not effective, as rabies is typically fatal once symptoms appear.
Abstract
In July 2003 a 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was imported from Harare, Zimbabwe to the Ashburton Training Centre, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Five months after importation, the colt presented with clinical signs suggestive of rabies: it was uncoordinated, showed muscle tremors and was biting at itself. Brain tissue was submitted for analysis and the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the fluorescent antibody test and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the cytoplasmic domain of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic region of the rabies virus confirmed it to be an infection with a canid rabies virus, originating from an area in Zimbabwe endemic for the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) rabies.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15991708/