Rabies in animals can have a very varied clinical presentation, presenting challenges in diagnosis based on clinical signs.
Clinical signs
WHO state that the clinical signs of rabies include any of the following signs in the acronym “ALPHA”:
- A - Aggression (unprovoked / abnormal)
- L - Lethargy
- P - Paralysis
- H - Hypersalivation
- A - Abnormal vocalisation
The following video provides footage of the signs of rabies, which is also available in other languages linked in the video details:
Clinical case definitions
Rabies can be diagnosed clinically under the following case definitions:
- Suspect rabies case: An animal showing any of the ALPHA signs of rabies.
- Probable rabies case:
- A suspect case (any ALPHA signs) and has a reliable history of contact with a rabid animal (suspect / probable / confirmed).
- A suspect case (any ALPHA signs) and was killed / died / disappeared within 5 days of showing ALPHA signs of rabies.
- Confirmed rabies case: An animal that has a positive laboratory rabies test (using a WOAH approved diagnostic test (e.g. DFA/PCR/DRIT))
- Non-case:
- Animals that are healthy after 14-days observation
- An animal that has a negative laboratory rabies test (DFA/PCR)
