Rabies

Definition of Rabies
(Scientific name: Lyssavirus rabies)

From the elephant glossary Section: disease

Random Literature
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals.[1] It was historically referred to as hydrophobia ("fear of water") because its victims panic when offered liquids to drink. Early symptoms can include fever and abnormal sensations at the site of exposure.[1] These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

Wikipedia

From Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants, 2006 by Murray Fowler, Susan K. Mikota

There are only a few cases of rabies in elephants; the general signs are listed so that clinicians may be cognizant of possible rabies.

No treatment is available. Elephants suspected of having rabies or other neurological conditions should be isolated and handled only in a no-contact mode. Only inactivated (killed) rabies vaccine should be used in elephants or any other animal for which the vaccine has not been validated for efficacy and safety. No vaccine has been validated for use in elephants.

The Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) is a laboratory test that detects rabies virus neutralizing antibodies. The threshold for a protective titer in animals has not been established; however, a titer greater than 1:5 is considered protective in humans. This is the test used at Kansas State University; it is not a species-specific assay. (Personal communication, Michele Miller, DVM, PhD, Orlando)

Vaccination will depend on exposure risks. Tetanus, Anthrax, and rabies are known pathogens for elephants for which vaccines are available; however, published data on protective doses and titers are
sparse.

Measurable titers (up to 1:1100 in RFFIT)c against rabies have been achieved in African elephants vaccinated with a single 2 cc dose of killed rabies vaccine IM (IMRAB 3, Merial, Duluth, Georgia, USA,
www.us.merial.com). Titers persisted at >1:50 for at least 2 years. Based on this preliminary data, a dosage regimen of 2 cc killed rabies vaccine IM every 2 years is recommended

Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants, 2006 by Murray Fowler, Susan K. Mikota

5 Deceased elephants due to Rabies.

Name	Species Sex	Origin	Age	Birth	Death date	Death reason	Parents	Arrival Death location
+ -unknown-	EM	unknown	?		2009-09-00	disease rabies	x	Colombo unspecified location
+ -unknown-	EM	unknown	?		2009-09-00	disease rabies	x	Colombo unspecified location
+ -Hariprasad-	EM M	wild	28	1977	2005-03-19	disease Rabies virus	x	Minnamthottil temple
+ -unknown-	EM	captive-born	73	1925	1998	disease Rabies	x	Unknown
+ -unknown-	EM F	unknown	?		1909-07-07	disease rabies	x	Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation (BBTC)

Reference list Koehl, Dan, (2025). Rabies. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 20 September 2021 at https://www.elephant.se/index.php?id=296. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

Selected publications

Beckett, J. 1932. Death of an elephant from rabies. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 16:242–243.

Links about Rabies

Selected external links for this article about Rabies:

External relevant search

Search more on the web for elephant+%22Rabies%22 (Opens in new window and the word elephant+%22Rabies%22 is already submitted into the link, just click on the link for relevant results)

Categories glossary | disease

About this documentWebsite online since 1995. This document was created: 2025-03-29. Latest update: 2025-03-29 10:27:23 included 2177 characters with valid HTML5

Definition of Rabies(Scientific name: Lyssavirus rabies)