Wild life rabies in Nigeria: experimental infection and transmission studies with the shrew (Crocidura sp.)

Abstract

Wild caught shrews were infected with rabies virus strains by the intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral routes. Inoculated animals became sick within four to seven days of inoculation with characteristic dumb rabies symptomatology. The significant symptom was a progressive loss of aggressiveness and an unbalanced gait. The course of illness was 36–48 hours. Transmission of rabies virus to susceptible laboratory mice was successful only with shrews which had been infected orally and allowed to bite adult mice soon after infection. This suggests a mechanical role in the transmission of rabies. Virus was isolated only from shrews infected with street or wild strains of rabies, but not with vaccine or fixed rabies strains.