Systematic Veterinary Virology

POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

• In cases of animal bites, dogs and cats in a rabies endemic area should be held for 10 days for observation. If signs develop, they should be killed and their tissue examined in the laboratory. Wild animals are not observed but if captured, the animal should be killed and examined. The essential components of postexposure prophylaxis are the local treatment of wounds and active and passive immunization.
• Wound treatment: Surgical debridement should be carried out. The wound should not be sutured up.
• Passive immunization: Human rabies immunoglobulin should be applied around the area of the wound; to be supplemented with an i.m. dose to confer short term protection. There is convincing evidence that combined treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and active immunization is much more effective than active immunization alone. Equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG) is available in many countries and is considerably cheaper than HRIG.
• Active immunization: The human diploid cell vaccine is the best preparation available. The vaccine is usually administered into the deltoid region, and 5 doses are usually given.