Rabies ( "fear of water") is the historical name of rabies. It refers to a set of symptoms in the later stages of the injury of the victim difficulty swallowing the panic when presented with liquids and drinks does not quench or thirst.
Diagnosis of Rabies in humans:
Background:
•
Human rabies can be confirmed ante-Morten and post-Morten by various diagnostic techniques aimed at detecting whole virus, viral antigens or nucleic acids in infected tissues.
• Several tests are necessary to diagnose rabies ante-Morten in humans; no single test is sufficient.
•
Tests are performed on the samples of saliva, serum, spinal fluid, and skin biopsies of hair follicles at the nape of the neck.
•
Saliva can be tested by virus isolation or reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (
RT-PCR).
• Serum and spinal fluid are tested for antibodies to rabies virus.
•
Skin biopsy specimens are examined for rabies antigen in the cetaceous nerves at the base of hair follicles.
• There is no test available for diagnosis of Rabies infection in humans before the onset of clinical disease, and unless the rabies-specific signs of hydrophobia or aerophobia are present, the clinical diagnosis may be difficult.
Diagnosis:
1.
Patient history:
- Ensure attending physician to complete clinical history of the patient using "
Patient Information Form for Human Rabies" (
Appendix -?) and /or "
Sample sending form".
- All the forms must accompany samples sent to the Rabies Laboratory.
2. Sample
Collection: all following clinical specimens are required for laboratory diagnosis of rabies:
Saliva1:
•
Tests performed:
o PCR for detection of rabies
RNA
o
Cell culture for isolation of the virus, if possible
• Collect saliva using a sterile eyedropper pipette (???)
o Tracheal aspirates and sputum are not suitable for rabies tests
•
Place collected saliva in a small sterile container, which can be sealed securely
• No preservative or additional material should be added
-
Neck skin biopsy/ autopsy2:
• Tests to be performed:
o direct
Rapid Immunohistochemistry
Test (dRIT) for antigen detection
o
Fluorescent Antibody Test (
FAT) for antigen detection
o
PCR for viral RNA
• A section of skin, 5 to 6 mm in diameter, should be taken from posterior region of the neck at the hairline
o The biopsy specimen should contain a minimum of 10 hair follicles and be of sufficient depth to include the cretaceous nerves at the base of the follicle.
• Place the specimen on a piece of sterile gauze moistened with sterile water and place in
a sealed container
• Do not add preservatives or additional fluids over the specimen
To know more tips click this link:
Rabies -
Symptoms, Diagnosis,
Treatment of Rabies
- published: 07 Aug 2014
- views: 139059