ABSTRACT
Rabies infection in man is one of the most common causes of encephalitis in developing countries. It is still an important health problem in many countries and almost inevitably results in death. Rabies affects terrestrial and airborne mammals, including the following families of animals: Canidae (dogs, wolves, foxes and coyotes), Procyonidae (raccoons), Viverridae (mongooses), Mustelidae (skunks, weasels and martens) and Chiroptera (bats) as reservoirs. All mammalian species are, however, believed to be susceptible. Rabies spreads amongst mammals by bites, contamination of intact and abraded mucosal membranes with virus-laden saliva, inhalation of aerosol, ingestion of infected prey and transplacentally. In man, rabies is nearly always secondary to bites, although exposure through the inhalation of the virus or through the transplant of an infected cornea also occurs.
