Articles tagged with Rabies
A team of French clinicians diagnosed a patient with rabies after an unusual clinical presentation despite no obvious exposure to animal bites. The strain was identified as circulating among dogs in West Africa, highlighting the risk of healthcare personnel via bodily fluids.
A global study on canine rabies found that 160 people die daily from the disease, with annual economic losses totaling $8.6 billion. Collaboration between human and animal health sectors is essential to eliminate rabies, with vaccination of dogs being the most cost-effective way to prevent the disease.
A new study mapped the spread of rabies in the Middle East, showing regular movement between countries and emphasizing the need for global collaboration to control the disease. International cooperation is crucial to increase awareness and implement effective control policies among key decision makers.
The study uses mutant stem cells to screen for genes involved in rabies infection and identifies 63 host target genes that can be targeted for treatment. The technique has potential applications in discovering gene function and assessing human host response to various infections and toxins.
A global survey has found that most countries where rabies is common lack effective reporting systems, making it difficult to control the disease. Accurate data is crucial for implementing vaccination programs and preventing further outbreaks.
A new study by Kansas State University veterinary diagnosticians found that a rabies booster can protect pets with out-of-date vaccinations from developing the fatal disease. The finding gives pet owners and veterinarians new options when faced with quarantining or euthanizing a pet exposed to the rabies virus.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have successfully tested a new treatment on mice that cures the disease even after the virus has spread to the brain. The new vaccine rescues mice much longer after infection than what was traditionally thought possible, with 50% of treated mice saved even after physical symptoms appear.
The NIH has granted a license agreement for a candidate Ebola vaccine that also protects against the rabies virus. Studies have shown the vaccines are safe and induce immune responses in monkeys, offering protection against the Zaire strain of Ebola.
Rabies uses a nerve growth factor receptor to enter the central nervous system, where it causes acute inflammation and violent aggression. The virus manipulates neuronal transport machinery to move faster than normal, allowing it to reach the brain with maximum speed.
A mass dog vaccination program can stop agonizing rabies deaths worldwide by targeting the virus's primary source: dogs. By vaccinating 70% of dogs in high-risk areas, transmission from dogs to humans can be broken, leading to a significant decline in human cases.
The rabies virus manipulates axonal transport to reach the brain quickly, with a speed of 8 cm/day, 40% faster than its regular partner NGF.
Researchers found that culling vampire bat colonies has minimal effect on containing the virus, and can actually increase its spread by driving infected bats into neighboring colonies. Coordinated efforts to control vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus in Latin America require understanding the mechanisms of persistence.
A new rabies vaccine aims to develop a single dose contraceptive vaccine, reducing child deaths and controlling dog rabies. The vaccine targets dendritic cells to induce strong immune responses against rabies and foreign antigens.
A fatal case of raccoon rabies virus exposure has been linked to a kidney transplant 18 months earlier, suggesting a long incubation period. The study emphasizes the importance of increased awareness and modified organ donor screening and recipient monitoring for infectious encephalitis.
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes and Salk Institute have developed a novel brain-tracing technique to map neurons in the basal ganglia, revealing clues about how specific brain regions connect. The findings suggest that different brain areas preferentially transmit signals to distinct types of neurons, guiding movement and decisi...
Scientists at Salk Institute and Gladstone Institutes developed a high-resolution mapping technique to uncover the underlying circuit architecture of the brain. The study found that specific brain regions connect to each other in distinct ways, offering new insights into how these connections influence brain function.
Scientists produced a monoclonal antibody in transgenic tobacco plants that neutralizes the rabies virus by preventing it from attaching to nerve endings. This new antibody opens the prospect of adequate rabies prevention for low-income families in developing countries.
Researchers discovered a ribosomal protein, rpL40, that regulates viral protein synthesis and could represent a target for antiviral treatments. This finding reveals the ribosome's active role in regulating protein translation and offers new insights into combating fatal viral infections such as rabies.
A new study has found that 11% of people in remote Amazonian communities regularly exposed to vampire bats have natural protection against rabies. Ten percent appear to have survived exposure to the virus without medical intervention, suggesting a potential route for developing effective treatments.
Scientists at Harvard University have created a comprehensive list of inputs that connect directly to dopamine neurons in the brain, revealing new connections and insights into Parkinson's disease and addiction. The study uses genetically-modified rabies virus to track neural pathways, providing quantitative data for future investigati...
A study published in PLoS Pathogens found that the rabies virus evolves nearly four times faster in tropical bats than in temperate bats. The rate of evolution depends on the bat's ecological traits, including its geographical location and behavior.
Scientists have successfully tested a bivalent vaccine that protects against both rabies and Ebola in mice, offering a promising solution for Africa's healthcare challenges. The vaccine is built on the same platform as the approved rabies vaccine and has several advantages over existing Ebola candidates.
A study by University of Calgary researchers confirms bats are not as disease-ridden as thought, with only one percent of bats infected with rabies regardless of species or location. The study's findings challenge previous estimates and highlight the importance of bats' ecosystem services.
A new monoclonal antibody, RAB-1, has shown promising results in a Phase 1 study, achieving protective antibody levels comparable to the current standard of treatment. The therapy could potentially save tens of thousands of lives annually by addressing supply problems and side-effect issues associated with human rabies immune globulin.
A study published in Science reveals that molecular sequence data can be used to quantify cross-species transmission rates, with bats being the most common source of human infections. The analysis found that rabies viruses are more likely to jump between closely related bat species than distant ones.
A recent study led by Daniel Streicker analyzed hundreds of rabies viruses from 23 North American bat species, providing estimates of cross-species transmission (CST) frequency. CST occurs only once for every 72.8 transmissions within the same species, with factors like geographic range and genetics influencing its likelihood.
A UT professor has made a groundbreaking discovery on how viruses jump from host to host. The study found that cross-species transmission may be driven more by host similarity than virus mutation and contact rates.
Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University developed a promising AIDS vaccine using a rabies virus-based strategy, inducing neutralizing antibodies and CD8+ T cell responses in monkeys. The study showed that the vaccine protected against disease and elicited significant antibody activity against SIV.
A new rabies vaccine has shown to induce a rapid and efficient immune response in mice and non-human primates, potentially reducing the six-shot post-exposure regimen to just one inoculation. The experimental vaccine lacks a key gene called the matrix (M) gene, inhibiting the virus from completing its life cycle.
A new book demystifies bats and eliminates many myths surrounding rabies, providing an overview of the virus variants that cause bat rabies and geographical patterns of occurrence. The book aims to increase public understanding of rabies and its impact on humans, pets, farm animals, and wildlife.
Two patients in Hanoi died from laboratory-confirmed rabies after consuming butchered dog or cat meat. The researchers caution that handling unvaccinated animals poses a significant risk for rabies transmission in endemic areas.
Research reveals a potentially lethal risk of rabies transmission through butchering and handling infected dogs. Two patients showed symptoms after preparing and eating infected animals, highlighting the dangers of consuming dog meat.
A team of scientists from McMaster University and around the world analyzed rabies transmission data and found evidence for low levels of transmission, suggesting that elimination of canine rabies is a realistic goal. Achieving vaccination coverage of 60% or more in dog populations in Africa would be feasible through annual campaigns.
A team of scientists found distinct subspecies of rabies virus in African countries, indicating limited movement between localities. With a progressive strategy, neighboring countries can work together to eliminate rabies from sub-Saharan Africa.
A new study published in BMC Infectious Diseases reveals a significant increase in human rabies cases in China since the new millennium. The researchers found that the number of cases jumped dramatically from 159 to 3,279 between 1990 and 2006, with most patients contracting the disease after being bitten by dogs.
Respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold and pneumonia, were the primary diagnoses for travelers in China. Dog bites were also a significant concern, with 400 reported cases over 10 years, leading to rabies vaccination needs. Travelers can minimize risks by planning ahead, using common sense, and taking necessary vaccinations.
A new, simplified economical method of giving rabies vaccine has been shown to stimulate anti-rabies antibodies just as effectively as the current standard vaccine regimen. The 4-site intradermal regimen is cheaper and more practical, with wider safety margins and suitability for use in financial-constrained areas.
The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine has received a $1.18 million NIH grant to develop a less expensive and less invasive means of vaccinating humans and animals against rabies. The proposed vaccine will use a genetically modified form of the live virus, aiming to establish immunity with fewer doses and reduce costs.
Immunology researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have successfully halted a lethal rabies infection in mice by opening the central nervous system's protective blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatment for late-stage rabies infections in humans, and may also shed light on other neurological diseases.
Researchers analyzed 30 years of data to understand how initial processes shaped the virus's geographic spread, revealing key factors like mountain ranges and rivers affecting its expansion. The study provides insights into the epidemiology of rabies and other emerging zoonotic diseases.
The Indo-US Vaccine Action Program has been renewed for another five-year period, supporting research on vaccines and immunology. Many successful collaborations have addressed critical health problems, including the development of a new hepatitis C diagnostic test and candidate vaccine against rotavirus.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that the LC8 protein is actually a transcription factor that enhances viral replication, not a transport mechanism. This discovery may change how scientists think about central nervous system-attacking viruses like rabies and herpes.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that a weakened rabies virus can ferry HIV-related proteins into animals, vaccinating them against an AIDS-like disease. After two years of challenge with SIV/HIV viruses, vaccinated non-human primates showed protection from disease and high CD4 cell counts.
Researchers have discovered a deficiency of biopterin in rabies patients and are working on an animal model to test the effectiveness of the Milwaukee protocol. The treatment has already shown promise, with two children surviving twice as long as average for rabies patients.
Scientists at Salk Institute develop tool to identify all neurons connected to a single neuron, shedding light on brain wiring and neural circuits. The modified rabies virus is used to create a wiring diagram of the brain, revealing connections between neurons and correlating them with brain functions.
The US Department of Agriculture is launching an oral rabies vaccination project in southwestern Virginia to combat the spread of raccoon rabies. Translocation of wildlife poses a significant threat to the program's success due to its ability to spread disease and increase stress on infected animals.
Researchers have discovered the structure of a protein called nucleoprotein, which helps viruses like rabies evade the human immune system. The protein acts as a 'clamp' to protect the virus RNA from degradation by host enzymes.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have identified a molecular mechanism involved in making the rabies virus pathogenic and lethal. They have developed a very safe vaccine for the immunization of wildlife, showing efficacy in raccoon, skunk, and mongoose species, offering new hope for prevention of deadly disease.
Dr Cleaveland's project seeks to eliminate rabies by targeting its primary source: dogs. The research also sheds light on the role of wildlife in transmitting diseases between species.
A report describes four transplant recipients who contracted rabies from a common donor, demonstrating the risk of transmission through solid organ transplantation. The cases highlight the importance of considering rabies diagnosis in rapidly progressive neurological diseases.
Rabies experts predict that raccoon rabies could spread rapidly across Ohio, with the virus potentially covering the state within 41 months. The study suggests that a strategic approach to controlling the spread of the disease is needed, including early detection and high-powered intervention programs.
Researchers developed a new live rabies vaccine by manipulating the virus, making it weaker and more effective in provoking an immune response. The vaccine has shown promise in preventing the spread of rabies in wildlife and humans, with potential applications for stray dogs and animals.
Jefferson scientists discovered that certain parts of the silver-haired bat rabies virus, specifically its glycoprotein cover, enable it to infect the brain rapidly. The researchers found that this type of rabies is capable of evading the immune system more effectively than other strains, making it a key factor in viral pathogenesis.
Scientists found that a protein inside the rabies virus can enhance the immune response against foreign proteins, enabling the creation of vaccines against other infectious agents. The technique could lead to the development of longer-lasting vaccines against diseases like anthrax.
The article discusses the ongoing threat of rabies in Africa and Asia, where dog rabies epidemics hinder control efforts. Mary Warrell highlights the importance of addressing this issue through improved surveillance and vaccination methods.
Jefferson scientists have developed a tobacco plant that produces human antibodies against rabies, addressing a global shortage of the treatment. The plant-based antibody is safer and less expensive than traditional methods, offering hope for millions affected by the deadly disease.
Ethiopian wolf populations are threatened by rabies, which spreads rapidly among packs. Vaccinating surrounding dogs is a costly and difficult option, but researchers found vaccinating wolves themselves could increase survival rates. Developing an oral rabies vaccine for wolves may be a more effective solution.
The WHO's annual report on global TB control reveals a persistent gap in detection rates, with expanded DOTs and cash injections needed to reach targets. Sex disparities also emerge as a significant issue, with women being infected at a higher rate than men, highlighting the need for tailored research and policies.
Researchers explore the role of dopamine in the placebo effect, which shows promise for treating Parkinson's disease, depression, and pain. Meanwhile, preclinical studies on bone-marrow stromal cells suggest potential therapeutic benefits for neural injury treatments like stroke.
Bats are the leading cause of human rabies in the US, with tiny bites going unnoticed. The study found it unlikely for bat rabies to be transmitted through the air or from an infected animal like a cat or dog. Dr. Gibbons advises seeking emergency care if direct contact occurs.