ANTE-MORTEM DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES IN PAKISTAN

Muhammad Numan

Veterinary Research Institute, Zarrar Shaheed Road Lahore Cantt; Pakistan; 1Department of Pathobiology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi; 2School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: numan_vri@yahoo.com

Abstract :

The present study was carried out to compare the conventional diagnostics for the diagnosis of rabies with advanced diagnostic technique. Ante-mortem diagnosis in food animals is of utmost importance for herd and/or flock management and to ensure proper postexposure treatment of infected animals. Conventional methods used for the diagnosis of rabies include bite history, clinical symptoms and different tests like direct immunofluorescence (FAT), cell culture (TCIT), animal inoculation tests (MIT) etc. However, all the above conventional diagnostics are laborious and time-consuming although they are assumed to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of rabies. In the present study antemortem diagnosis of rabies is described using newer molecular technique and conventional methods for the detection of rabies virus RNA from saliva samples. Saliva samples from animals at different time intervals were collected and tested for rabies virus using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and mouse inoculation test (MIT). Results obtained by RT-PCR (1-2 days required) were satisfactory and can be applied in replacement of routine laboratory test i.e. MIT (21 days required) for ante-mortem diagnosis of rabies virus from saliva. Key words: animal rabies, saliva, RT-PCR, MIT, N gene.