Rabid Cat Research Articles

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2022.

To provide comprehensive epidemiological information about the distribution and occurrence of rabies during 2022 in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The US National Rabies Surveillance System collected 2022 animal rabies data from US state and territorial public health departments and USDA Wildlife Services. Temporal and geographic analyses were conducted to evaluate trends in animal rabies cases. During 2022, 54 US jurisdictions reported 3,579 animal rabies cases, reflecting a 2.3% decline from 3,663 cases reported in 2021. Six states collectively reported > 50% of animal rabies cases: Texas (395 [11.0%]), Virginia (337 [9.4%]), Pennsylvania (329 [9.2%]), New York (267 [7.5%]), North Carolina (264 [7.4%]), and California (241 [6.7%]). Out of the total reported rabies animal cases, 3,234 (90.4%) were attributed to wildlife, with bats (1,218 [34.0%]), raccoons (1,014 [28.3%]), skunks (660 [18.4%]), and foxes (269 [7.5%]) representing the primary hosts confirmed with rabies. Rabid cats (222 [6.2%]), cattle (42 [1.2%]), and dogs (50 [1.4%]) constituted > 90% of reported domestic animal rabies cases. In 2022, there was an increase in the number of animal samples submitted for rabies testing in the US and Canada. A notable geographic expansion of gray fox rabies virus variant was detected in the US. Three human rabies deaths due to vampire bat rabies infection occurred in Mexico; none were reported from the US and Canada. Laboratory diagnosis of rabies in animals is critical to ensure judicious use of human rabies postexposure prophylaxis.

Rabies in Cats—An Emerging Public Health Issue

Human rabies cases today are predominantly associated with infection from rabid domestic dogs. Unlike dogs, a common global reservoir species that perpetuates rabies viruses (RABV) within their populations, domestic cats are much less frequently reported or vaccinated. Epidemiologically, cats are important vectors of lyssaviruses but are not viral reservoirs. Typically, cats are incidental hosts only, infected with the predominant lyssavirus in their geographic locale. Human cases associated with rabid cats have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe and throughout the Americas. As adept, solitary hunters, wild and domestic felids are at risk of lyssavirus infection based upon interactions with infected prey, such as bats, or from transmission by other mesocarnivores, such as rabid dogs, foxes, jackals, raccoons, and skunks. Current veterinary vaccines provide safe and effective immunity in cats against phylogroup I lyssaviruses, such as RABV, but not against divergent lyssaviruses in phylogroups II-IV. With the focus upon the global elimination of canine rabies, the emergence of rabies in cats represents a concerning trend. Clearly, education about the occurrence of rabies in cats needs to be improved, as well as the routine vaccination of cats to reduce the associated risks to public health, agriculture, and conservation biology from a One Health perspective.

Rabies in a domestic cat in Niagara: An environmental health perspective

On Friday June 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm, Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services (NRPH&ES) received notification of a rabies positive result for a cat that they had submitted for rabies testing earlier that week. The investigation revealed that it was a domestic cat from an urban area in St. Catharines that had been around numerous people and other animals during its infectious period. As part of the follow-up, NRPH&ES contacted all potential exposures, coordinated vaccination for those that required it and collaborated with other agencies to ensure the safety of all those involved. In addition, NRPH&ES navigated working with vaccine hesitant clients who were uncooperative in providing details pertaining to people who may have been in contact with the rabid cat, other animals living in the household, and ultimately reluctant to receive rabies post exposure prophylaxis (rPEP). Through innovation, unconventional methods and deviation from standard practice, NRPH&ES was able to build a trusting relationship with all clients, gather the information they required to conduct a fulsome investigation, and vaccinate and confine the other animal exposed to the rabid cat.

Cat rabies in Brazil: a growing One Health concern.

This review of human and cat rabies from 1986 to 2022 has shown mostly AgV3 variant in human cases with 29/45 (64.4%) reports including 23 from bats, four from cats, and two from unknown species, followed by 8/45 (17.8%) of AgV2 variant (all from dogs), 4/45 from marmoset variant (all from Callithrix jacchus), 2/45 samples compatible with wild canid variant (both from Cerdocyon thous), and one/45 of AgV1 variant from a domestic dog. Only one sample of human rabies was not typified, related to bat aggression. In addition, surveillance conducted in the state of São Paulo confirmed the presence of rabies in 7/23,839 cats (0.031%) and 3/106,637 dogs (0.003%) between 2003 and 2013, with a 10:1 overall cat-to-dog positivity ratio. This 10-fold higher infection rate for cat rabies may be explained by cats' hunting habits and predation. In addition, after 28 years of rabies-free status, a new cat rabies case was reported in the city of São Paulo in 2011. The rabid cat lived, along with other pets, in a household located near the largest downtown city park, whose owners presented animal hoarding behavior. Thus, animal hoarders and rescuers, public health agents, animal health professionals, and the general population with contact need to be aware of the risk of bat-borne rabies followed by spillover from cats to humans. In conclusion, cat rabies cases are becoming increasingly important in Brazil. This poses a One Health concern, given the overlapping of human, bat and cat populations within the same predisposed environment.

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2021.

To provide epidemiological information on the occurrence of animal and human rabies in the US during 2021 and summaries of 2021 rabies surveillance for Canada and Mexico. State and territorial public health departments and USDA Wildlife Services provided data on animals submitted for rabies testing in 2021. Data were analyzed temporally and geographically to assess trends in domestic animal and wildlife rabies cases. During 2021, 54 US jurisdictions reported 3,663 rabid animals, representing an 18.2% decrease from the 4,479 cases reported in 2020. Texas (n = 456 [12.4%]), Virginia (297 [8.1%]), Pennsylvania (287 [7.8%]), North Carolina (248 [6.8%]), New York (237 [6.5%]), California (220 [6.0%]), and New Jersey (201 [5.5%]) together accounted for > 50% of all animal rabies cases reported in 2021. Of the total reported rabid animals, 3,352 (91.5%) involved wildlife, with bats (n = 1,241 [33.9%]), raccoons (1,030 [28.1%]), skunks (691 [18.9%]), and foxes (314 [8.6%]) representing the primary hosts confirmed with rabies. Rabid cats (216 [5.9%]), cattle (40 [1.1%]), and dogs (36 [1.0%]) accounted for 94% of rabies cases involving domestic animals in 2021. Five human rabies deaths were reported in 2021. The number of animal rabies cases reported in the US decreased significantly during 2021; this is thought to be due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2020.

To provide epidemiological information on animal and human cases of rabies in the US during 2020 and summaries of 2020 rabies surveillance for Canada and Mexico. All animals submitted for laboratory diagnosis of rabies in the US during 2020. State and territorial public health departments and USDA Wildlife Services provided 2020 rabies surveillance data. Data were analyzed temporally and geographically to assess trends in domestic and wildlife rabies cases. During 2020, 54 jurisdictions submitted 87,895 animal samples for rabies testing, of which 85,483 (97.3%) had a conclusive (positive or negative) test result. Of these, 4,479 (5.2%) tested positive for rabies, representing a 4.5% decrease from the 4,690 cases reported in 2019. Texas (n = 580 [12.9%]), Pennsylvania (371 [8.3%]), Virginia (351 [7.8%]), New York (346 [7.7%]), North Carolina (301 [6.7%]), New Jersey (257 [5.7%]), Maryland (256 [5.7%]), and California (248 [5.5%]) together accounted for > 60% of all animal rabies cases reported in 2020. Of the total reported rabid animals, 4,090 (91.3%) involved wildlife, with raccoons (n = 1,403 [31.3%]), bats (1,400 [31.3%]), skunks (846 [18.9%]), and foxes (338 [7.5%]) representing the primary hosts confirmed with rabies. Rabid cats (288 [6.4%]), cattle (43 [1.0%]), and dogs (37 [0.8%]) accounted for 95% of rabies cases involving domestic animals in 2020. No human rabies cases were reported in 2020. For the first time since 2006, the number of samples submitted for rabies testing in the US was < 90,000; this is thought to be due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as similar decreases in sample submission were also reported by Canada and Mexico.

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2019.

To provide epidemiological information on animal and human cases of rabies occurring in the United States during 2019 and summaries of 2019 rabies surveillance for Canada and Mexico. All animals submitted for laboratory diagnosis of rabies in the United States during 2019. State and territorial public health departments and USDA Wildlife Services provided data on animals submitted for rabies testing in the United States during 2019. Data were analyzed temporally and geographically to assess trends in domestic and wildlife rabies cases. During 2019, 53 jurisdictions submitted 97,523 animal samples for rabies testing, of which 94,770 (97.2%) had a conclusive (positive or negative) test result. Of these, 4,690 tested positive for rabies, representing a 5.3% decrease from the 4,951 cases reported in 2018. Texas (n = 565 [12.0%]), New York (391 [8.3%]), Virginia (385 [8.2%]), North Carolina (315 [6.7%]), California (276 [5.9%]), and Maryland (269 [5.7%]) together accounted for almost half of all animal rabies cases reported in 2019. Of the total reported rabid animals, 4,305 (91.8%) were wildlife, with raccoons (n = 1,545 [32.9%]), bats (1,387 [29.6%]), skunks (915 [19.5%]), and foxes (361 [7.7%]) as the primary species confirmed with rabies. Rabid cats (n = 245 [5.2%]) and dogs (66 [1.4%]) accounted for > 80% of rabies cases involving domestic animals in 2019. No human rabies cases were reported in 2019. The overall number of animal rabies cases decreased from 2018 to 2019. Laboratory diagnosis of rabies in animals is critical to ensure that human rabies postexposure prophylaxis is administered judiciously.

Public awareness on vaccination of cats against rabies and risk of human rabies due to cats in Sri Lanka

Background: Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease, most commonly spreads through the contamination of bites or scratches with virus laden saliva of infected animals. Though it is 100% fatal, it is 100% preventable if post exposure prophylaxis is administered before onset of clinical signs. Today Rabies has become a major public health issue. Presently, vaccinating only domesticated and stray dogs is the method of intervention carried out to control the transmission cycle among dogs which is, the reservior of rabies in Sri Lanka. Predominantly, dogs and cats are domestic pets in many Sri Lankan homes. Cats also vulnerable to infection as Rabies naturally affects mammals. Our aim was to assess number of rabid cats reported in Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2015 and to determine the degree of public awareness on vaccination against rabies for cats. Methods and materials: Data from bulletin published by Public Health Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka for 2010 to 2015 were extracted and analyzed. Questionaire based surveillance was carried out for cats rearing households in Dehiwala Municipal Council area. Results: Data revealed the second commonest source of human rabid deaths reported from 2010 to 2015 was cats (3%). Total number of rabies suspected cat heads received for laboratory testing were 343, 364, 460, 370, 436 and 362 for year 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 and 2015 respectively. Total number of positive cat heads out of 2335 rabies suspected heads was 490 from 2010 to 2015 (p = 0.2). Total number of cat rearing households in surveyed area was 665 and out of them only 18% households were aware on vaccination of cats against rabies. Total number of cats in the area was 1189 and out of them 7% was vaccinated. Conclusion: In Sri Lanka, even domesticated cats also have a behavior pattern of roaming largely. Therefore, it is important to vaccinate domesticated cats not only to prevent the risk of disease transmission from stray cats and dogs but also to minimize the risk of human infection. Facilities for vaccination of domesticated cats and public awareness on vaccination and sending rabies suspected heads to laboratory need to be improved at national level.

Public Veterinary Medicine: Public Health: Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2018.

To describe rabies and rabies-related events occurring during 2018 in the United States. All animals submitted for laboratory diagnosis of rabies in the United States during 2018. State and territorial public health departments provided data on animals submitted for rabies testing in 2018. Data were analyzed temporally and geographically to assess trends in domestic animal and wildlife rabies cases. During 2018, 54 jurisdictions reported 4,951 rabid animals to the CDC, representing an 11.2% increase from the 4,454 rabid animals reported in 2017. Texas (n = 695 [14.0%]), Virginia (382 [7.7%]), Pennsylvania (356 [7.2%]), North Carolina (332 [6.7%]), Colorado (328 [6.6%]), and New York (320 [6.5%]) together accounted for almost half of all rabid animals reported in 2018. Of the total reported rabies cases, 4,589 (92.7%) involved wildlife, with bats (n = 1,635 [33.0%]), raccoons (1,499 [30.3%]), skunks (1,004 [20.3%]), and foxes (357 [7.2%]) being the major species. Rabid cats (n = 241 [4.9%]) and dogs (63 [1.3%]) accounted for > 80% of rabid domestic animals reported in 2018. There was a 4.6% increase in the number of samples submitted for testing in 2018, compared with the number submitted in 2017. Three human rabies deaths were reported in 2018, compared with 2 in 2017. The overall number of animal rabies cases increased from 2017 to 2018. Laboratory diagnosis of rabies in animals is critical to ensure that human rabies postexposure prophylaxis is administered judiciously.

The Epidemiological Importance of Bats in the Transmission of Rabies to Dogs and Cats in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, Between 2005 and 2014.

In Brazil, rabies control in dogs and cats was pioneered by the state of São Paulo with the adoption of the Pan American Health Organization recommendations for prophylaxis and control, which led to a reduction in rabies cases from 1994 onwards. As a result of these measures, the rabies virus (RABV) genetic lineage associated with dogs has not been found in the state since 1998, and all the cases in domestic animals reported since then have been caused by bat-associated lineages of RABV. In the light of this, this study sought to investigate rabies cases in dogs and cats in the state of São Paulo between 2005 and 2014 and identify the associated transmission cycles by characterizing the RABV lineages responsible for these cases. Nine samples from dogs (n=5) and from cats (n=4) were collected between 2005 and 2014. The tenth animal, a rabid cat, was analysed by a different laboratory. The N gene nucleotide sequences obtained were analysed with the neighbor-joining algorithm and Kimura 2-parameter model using the MEGA 6 program. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genetic lineages identified in all the samples were those circulating in Brazilian bats. The findings of this study demonstrate that bats play an important role in the transmission of rabies to domestic animals in São Paulo state and that emphasis should be placed on the implementation of public policies to support surveillance of chiropterans for rabies.

Love knows no boundaries.

Because we are scientists, my husband and I have moved 13 times over the past 8 years, not always to the same place or in the same direction. Eight of those moves covered large swaths of the United States: South Carolina to Texas, Texas to Washington, Washington to Idaho. For 3 years now, we've been seeking a permanent place where we can live together and have good, long-term jobs in science—both of us. Now, those 3 years of searching and our 10 years together have come down to decisions we'll likely make in the next month: Will I follow him? Will he follow me? Will we take jobs in different places? Things weren't supposed to end up this way. We both attended tier-one research institutions for our graduate degrees. Both he, a spatial ecologist, and I, a cell and molecular biologist, have publications in our fields. We both have generous reference letters. Years ago, we decided that I would pursue the academic track while he looked for a job with a nongovernmental organization; we hoped that would improve our odds of finding jobs in the same city. We've been married for 5 years and together for 10, but we've lived in the same city for only three. (Yes, it's a tough way to have a relationship, especially if starting a family is an eventual goal, as it is for us—but thank you, Google, for Google Chat.) ![Figure][1] “We've been married for 5 years and together for 10, but we've lived in the same city for only three.” ILLUSTRATION: ROBERT NEUBECKER Now, my great opportunity is in Seattle, Washington. His is in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Both seem promising, but either could still fall through. The only certainties are that in the next 30 days, we'll commit to yet another move—at least one, somewhere, because my husband's job here in Boise is ending.and that whatever decisions we make, we'll make together. The choices are terrifying: My career over his? His over mine? Live thousands of miles apart, long term, on opposite coasts and not have a family? Break up? It might be less terrifying if I had a clear preference for one over the other, my career over my husband (and nascent family) or vice versa. But I don't. I want them both. From graduate school and two postdocs to my first nontenure-track faculty position, I haven't lost my desire to push forward, bit by bit, the frontiers of my field—to watch with increasing precision the dance of proteins, DNA replication and repair, and chromosome segregation. When I celebrated another New Year's Eve with a trip to the core microscopy facility; when I spent my evenings last semester creating clinical problems for my students to work on during class; when, after I miscarried our first and so far only child, I returned to the lab the next day at the request of my principal investigator, I did so with the sense of cheerful self-sacrifice that comes from a deep desire to serve my institution, my students, and my science. But my love for my husband and my hope for a family are deep and fundamental parts of who I am. We met over a plate of barbecue during my graduate training in Houston, Texas, and when he flew to Africa for a 3-year stay, we e-mailed and called frequently. He shared with me his experiences as a science teacher in Sierra Leone. I told him about my graduate work in Texas. The relationship was cemented when, after an encounter with a rabid cat forced his medical evacuation to Belgium, I flew in to be with him as he received the treatments that saved his life. During that week and a half, I waited with him in a hotel room, looking out for signs of the disease. When none appeared, we returned to the United States and continued our interstate courtship. In time we married. He has supported me through my last year of graduate school, my first year teaching undergraduate biology, and the miscarriage of our child. Though we've lived apart for much of our marriage, neither my mind nor my heart can imagine a future without him. [1]: pending:yes

Rabies in Romania – Editorial Comment

Rabies is an important health issue worldwide due to its high mortality and its possibly insidious outline determined by the relatively long incubation period, of three to eight weeks1 and sometimes longer than one year.2 One fatal case of human rabies in Australia presented an incubation of 27 months after a fruit bat bite3 and a number of other cases in endemic areas reported longer, less plausible incubation periods,2 up to 20 years.4,5 The high number of human cases reported by Najar et al.6 in this issue of GERMS brings into the spotlight a quite stringent problem, that of endemic rabies. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports, since 2005, all cases of rabies in the European Union have been imported from countries such as India, the Philippines, Morocco, French Guyana or Kenya, except for the Romanian cases.7 There is obvious need for the eradication of animal rabies, which can be accomplished, at least in part, through the program for oral vaccination of foxes, as described by Muller et al.8 Meanwhile, measures should be taken to limit the transmission of rabies to humans and to domestic animals such as cats and dogs in rural areas or in the vicinity of forests, through informing the population in rural areas on the need to seek medical advice after animal bites and through offering easier access to healthcare (shorter distances to hospitals or clinics, transportation systems, etc). Another interesting aspect of the epidemiology of human rabies in Romania, as pointed out by Najar et al.,6 is that one third of the cases were associated with rabid cat bites. This should raise an alarm signal, particularly since the general view on rabies is that the highest risks are associated with wild animals or stray dog bites. Therefore, people should be educated to seek medical advice for cat bites as well.

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2010

During 2010, 48 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,154 rabid animals and 2 human rabies cases to the CDC, representing an 8% decrease from the 6,690 rabid animals and 4 human cases reported in 2009. Hawaii and Mississippi did not report any laboratory-confirmed rabid animals during 2010. Approximately 92% of reported rabid animals were wildlife. Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 2,246 raccoons (36.5%), 1,448 skunks (23.5%), 1,430 bats (23.2%), 429 foxes (6.9%), 303 cats (4.9%), 71 cattle (1.1 %), and 69 dogs (1.1 %). Compared with 2009, number of reported rabid animals decreased across all animal types with the exception of a 1 % increase in the number of reported rabid cats. Two cases of rabies involving humans were reported from Louisiana and Wisconsin in 2010. Louisiana reported an imported human rabies case involving a 19-year-old male migrant farm worker who had a history of a vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) bite received while in Mexico. This represents the first human rabies case reported in the United States confirmed to have been caused by a vampire bat rabies virus variant. Wisconsin reported a human rabies case involving a 70-year-old male that was confirmed to have been caused by a rabies virus variant associated with tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus).

Rabies in vaccinated dogs and cats in the United States, 1997–2001

To identify cases of rabies involving vaccinated dogs and cats in the United States. Retrospective data review. 41 states that reported >or= 1 rabid dog or cat between 1997 and 2001. States were contacted to request information on numbers of dogs and cats tested for rabies between 1997 and 2001. For animals with a history of rabies vaccination, respondents were asked to provide details of the vaccination history, age, history of exposure to rabid animals, time between exposure and onset of clinical signs, clinical signs, duration of clinical signs, and whether the animal had died or was euthanatized. 21 of the 41 (51%) states agreed to participate in the study. A total of 264 rabid dogs and 840 rabid cats were identified during the study period. Thirteen (4.9%) rabid dogs and 22 (2.6%) rabid cats had a history of rabies vaccination. Of these, 2 dogs and 3 cats were classified as currently vaccinated. Overall, 6 animals (1 dog and 5 cats) had a history of receiving 2 doses of rabies vaccine in their lifetime, including 2 cats that were classified as currently vaccinated. Results suggested that rabies is uncommon in vaccinated dogs and cats but can occur. Veterinarians should include rabies in the differential diagnosis for any dog or cat with clinical signs compatible with rabies regardless of vaccination history. Continued surveillance is imperative to document vaccination failure and identify trends related to vaccination failure.

A retrospective study of rabies in humans in Zimbabwe, between 1992 and 2003

This study aimed at examining the epidemiological features of rabies in humans in Zimbabwe. The data were taken from internal reports of the department of veterinary technical services at Harare covering the period 1st January 1992–31st December 2003 inclusive. Positive cases were examined in relation to age and sex of the victim, animal vector involved, season, and land-use categories. The majority of the confirmed positive human cases (85.7%) were recorded in communal areas. The 5–19 year age group and males constituted a highly vulnerable group. Over 90% of the cases were due to dog bites with jackals ( Canis adustus and C. mesomelas), and honey badgers ( Mellivora capensis) also contributing to the positive cases. Rabid cats and rabid wild animals had a high relative risk (RR) of biting humans. Animal-to-human transmission was highest during the dry months of July to November.

Rational Buildings Designed To `Calm the Disorderly Mind'

Rational Buildings Designed To `Calm the Disorderly Mind'

Temporal dynamics of rabies in a wildlife host and the risk of cross-species transmission.

An epidemiological model was developed for rabies, linking the risk of disease in a secondary species (cats) to the temporal dynamics of disease in a wildlife reservoir (raccoons). Data were obtained from cats, raccoons, and skunks tested for rabies in the northeastern United States during 1992-2000. An epizootic algorithm defined a time-series of successive intervals of epizootic and inter-epizootic raccoon rabies. The odds of diagnosing a rabid cat during the first epizootic of raccoon rabies was 12 times greater than for the period prior to epizootic emergence. After the first raccoon epizootic, the risk for cat rabies remained elevated at levels six- to seven-fold above baseline. Increased monthly counts of rabid raccoons and skunks and decreasing human population density increased the probability of cat rabies in most models. Forecasting of the public health and veterinary burden of rabies and assessing the economics of control programmes, requires linking outcomes to dynamic, but predictable, changes in the temporal evolution of rabies epizootics.

Fatal outcome after postexposure rabies vaccination in a patient with Parkinson’s disease

In Serbia and Montenegro postexposure rabies vaccination is performed using five doses of rabies vaccine with a potency of 2.5 I.U. It is given on 0, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day, combined with human rabies immunoglobulin with the first dose. Modern rabies vaccines produced in cell cultures rarely cause neurologic complications, among which Guillain-Barre syndrome and parkinsonism. The authors report a case of a 78-year-old woman with a documented five-year history of Parkinson's disease, who was bitten by a rabid cat. Twelve hours later, when the rabies infection of the cat was confirmed by an immunofluorescence test, the patient received the first dose of rabies vaccine Verorab (Aventis), a cell culture vaccine, together with the human rabies immunoglobulin produced in Belgrade. After the third dose of rabies vaccine, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease progressed and vaccination was interrupted. However, one month later, the patient died with predominantly neurological symptoms. As the patient died at the time when incubation of rabies might have been expected, autopsy and rabies diagnostics were performed. AUTOPSY AND PATHOHISTOLOGIC FINDINGS: The autopsy and pathohistologic findings from the specimens treated with routine hematoxylin and eosin staining, together with immunofluorescence test, excluded rabies as a cause of death and revealed neurodegenerative changes typical for Parkinson's disease. Using two different fluorescent rabies antibodies, we performed a direct immunofluorescence antibody tests, but no rabies antigens were detected. However, in histologic slides of the brain stem, large intracytoplasmic inclusions were found in some neurons, identified as Lewy bodies characteristic for Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease, with its complications, was the cause of death of the patient bitten by a rabid cat. Furthermore, the coincidence of the progression of Parkinson's disease symptoms, at the time of postexposure rabies vaccination, points to the vaccine as a possible contributing factor to aggravation of the disease and lethal outcome.

Bats, Cats, and Rabies in an Urban Community

Bats are the primary vectors of rabies in humans in the United States. In the urban environment they generally are found within buildings where they may bite people or be attacked by cats or dogs. Given the high probability that any bat that bites a person may be rabid, antirabies prophylaxis should be administered as soon as possible after the incident. This should not be delayed pending laboratory results on the bat. Children should be taught to avoid contact with moribund bats. Cats are more likely to be involved with rabid bats than dogs, but they are less likely to be vaccinated against rabies. The occasional rabid cat in an urban community may have acquired its infection from a bat. Therefore, it is vital that communities enforce rabies vaccination for cats as well as dogs.

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of rabies in cats

Summary: The epizootic of rabies in raccoons in Maryland has been accompanied by 129 confirmed cases of rabies in cats from Jan 1, 1983 to Sept 30, 1992 and only 12 cases in dogs. An epidemiologic and clinical study of rabies in cats was conducted for the period Jan 1, 1983 to May 31, 1986. Only 3 of 31 rabid cats had a history of being currently vaccinated against rabies, and 13 were of unknown ownership. A history of prior wound or injury within 6 months of onset of signs of rabies was reported in 11 of the cats and most of these had a wound in a hind limb. The median interval between reporting of a wound and a development of rabies was 4 to 6 weeks. Rabies in cats is difficult to diagnose in the early stages and, of the 14 cats examined by a veterinarian, only 3 were believed to have rabies on initial examination. Major signs of rabies in cats reported by veterinarians included behavior change, gait abnormality, strange or unusual look in the eyes, and a wound within the preceding 6 months. Owners reported increased frequency of vocalization as an early sign. Postexposure treatment was given to 194 human beings including 63 veterinarians or their personnel. The estimated cost of postexposure biologics was $68,000.