Rabies lyssavirus (RABV), formerly called rabies virus, is the type species of the genus Lyssavirus (family Rhabdoviridae). It is a non‑segmented, negative‑sense single‑stranded RNA virus about 12 kb long and encodes five structural proteins. Virions are enveloped, bullet‑shaped and display knobbed glycoprotein spikes.
Transmission, pathology and clinical aspects
Rabies lyssavirus is maintained in nature by various mammalian reservoirs. Carnivores such as domestic dogs, foxes and skunks sustain urban and terrestrial cycles, while bats are the principal hosts for many lyssavirus species. The virus is usually transmitted through saliva via bites, scratches or mucosal contact. After inoculation, it replicates locally and ascends peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, causing acute progressive encephalomyelitis. The incubation period ranges from weeks to months, influenced by inoculation site, viral dose and host factors. Early symptoms often mimic influenza, including fever, weakness and headache, with itching or pain at the bite site. As the disease progresses, patients develop anxiety, confusion, hydrophobia, hypersalivation and paralysis, culminating in coma and death. Once clinical signs appear, rabies is nearly always fatal. Prevention relies on vaccination of domestic animals, avoidance of contact with bats and wild carnivores, and prompt post‑exposure prophylaxis with vaccines and rabies immune globulin. There is no effective antiviral treatment for established infections.
Host range and public health examples
Rabies lyssavirus occurs on every continent except Antarctica and can infect most mammals. Dog‑mediated rabies causes tens of thousands of human deaths annually in Asia and Africa, while wildlife reservoirs such as raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats sustain transmission in the Americas and Europe. Unprovoked bites from unvaccinated dogs remain the most common source of human infection, whereas bat exposures account for most cases in the United States and Canada. Human‑to‑human transmission is exceedingly rare and has been documented only in a few instances of corneal transplantation. Surveillance programmes show that variants of RABV are adapted to specific reservoir species, which complicates eradication. Vaccines for classical rabies provide effective protection against RABV but may not fully protect against other lyssaviruses such as Lagos bat virus, Mokola virus and Duvenhage virus. Public health interventions include mass dog vaccination, wildlife oral vaccination campaigns and awareness education about avoiding contact with wild animals and seeking medical care immediately after exposures.
Rabies lyssavirus is a bullet‑shaped neurotropic virus that causes invariably fatal encephalitis. Thanks to effective vaccines and post‑exposure prophylaxis, human rabies is entirely preventable; however, it remains a significant public health problem in many regions. Control efforts focus on eliminating dog‑mediated transmission and monitoring bat and wildlife reservoirs.
Related Terms: Rotavirus H, Rotavirus C, Lagos Bat Lyssavirus, Mokola Lyssavirus, Duvenhage Lyssavirus