Victims of a Rabid Wolf in India: Effect of Severity and Location of Bites on Development of Rabies

Abstract

A rabid wolf attacked 12 humans and six animals in six villages in the course of a day before it was surrounded and killed. Of the 12 human victims, three had severe wounds to the face and head, five had severe lacerations, two had less severe wounds on the trunk and limbs, and two had minor wounds or scratches. Nine of these victims received antirabies treatment with Semple vaccine (preceded by immune serum in one case). No persons with trunk and limb bites died. All three patients with head wounds died. One of these patients received vaccine and serum, one received vaccine, and the third had no treatment. Neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated in blood samples drawn 58 days after the incident from five survivors who had received a full course of treatment, but such antibodies were absent from the blood of one untreated survivor (who had only minor scratches and had refused treatment) and of the wife of one man who died, who had been in close contact with her husband throughout his illness. All severely bitten animals died of rabies. A dog that the carcass of a pig which had died of rabies itself developed rabies 12 days later. This event raised the possibility of infection by the oral route.

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis: A case study in Tanzania

“…From these results, we calculated the proportion of people bitten by rabid animals who subsequently develop rabies, in relation to age, site of wound and PEP administration. These data (shown in Table 1) are broadly consistent with results of much earlier studies, including studies that report the outcome of rabid wolf bites, and support the notion that the risk of developing rabies is much greater when bites are inflicted in the head and neck area than when inflicted on the torso or foot [16-19]. …”

Key factors and related principles in the conservation of largeAfrican carnivores

“…Large African carnivores contribute sporadically to the circulation of rabies as non‐maintenance populations (Lembo et al. ), and rabid carnivores can fatally attack people and livestock (Shah & Jaswal ).…”

“…Habitat loss and fragmentation increase contact between large carnivores, people and domestic dogs and result in a higher risk of disease transmission (Scott 1988, Saunders et al 1991, Forman 1995. Large African carnivores contribute sporadically to the circulation of rabies as nonmaintenance populations (Lembo et al 2008), and rabid carnivores can fatally attack people and livestock (Shah & Jaswal 1976).…”

Rabies, a Vaccine Preventable Disease: Current Status, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Prevention and Control With Special Reference to India

“…1976 Transmission of rabies from wild animal (wolf) to humans and domestic animals, and possibility of oral route of rabies infection described. Shah & Jaswal (1976) In addition, 31 schools including one monk school were visited to provide education on dog bite prevention, post bite management, animal welfare and rabies control. SARAH worked to increase the public awareness of rabies and distemper through radio, television, newspapers, public meetings, school visits and world rabies day activities.…”