Rabies: Unveiling deadly pathways and need for timely intervention

Every year, it is estimated that 100,000 people succumb to rabies-related complications.

Rabies is predominantly found in less developed rural communities of Asia and Africa. Apart from wild animals, pets such as dogs and cats are some of the primary hosts. However, the virus is also found in other continents except Antarctica.

Note that children are at a higher risk of exposure than adults. The patient goes through phases of infection upon exposure. The rabies virus can remain in your body for days to weeks before it enters your nervous system. This phase is called incubation. No notable symptoms are visible and in any case, this is the best chance to seek medical attention.

One is recommended to get the four shots if not vaccinated before (2 when vaccinated before) to have a better chance to survive.

The Prodromal Phase elicits the immune response that in any case is overwhelmed by the virus. This immune response manifests itself in form of flu like symptoms.

Meanwhile, the damaged nerve cells manifest through symptoms such as tingling, pain, numbness at the spot of wound bite among other symptoms. This may last from 2-12 days. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment at this stage.

The virus then progresses to the acute neurologic phase, which can be classified as either furious or paralytic. In the furious form, symptoms include aggression, seizures and delirium, while the paralytic form involves paralysis spreading from the wound to other regions, among other symptoms.

This phase may last from a few days to a week in the case of furious rabies while paralytic cases can persist for up to a month. Many patients eventually slip into a coma, with death following as the final stage of this deadly disease. The best chance of survival occurs during the incubation case. Rabies causes acute brain inflammation, leading to psychosis, violent aggression, and other prominent neurologic symptoms. The virus paralyses body’s internal organs and is fatal if a vaccine is not administered on time.

Let’s explore the pathway through which rabies virus gain access to the central nervous system, ultimately becoming lethal.Like many other pathogenic viruses, rabies has a unique method of compromising the body’s immune response.  

This virus hijacks the nervous system’s machinery, manipulating it to move rapidly and target systems like the brain. The virus enters the nervous system by binding to the nerve growth factor receptor, which is responsible neuron health. It then quickly develops a faster transport system than its endogenous ligand.

Upon inoculating the virus in a mouse’s sensory neurons in a controlled environment, it became clear the virus commandeered the transport system, moving the cell components along the neuron and driving them straight into the spinal cord, and eventually the brain, at the speed of an electric train.It is also good to put in mind neurons (nerve cells) outside the central nervous system are not symmetrical (asymmetric).

 In the spinal chord, it targets the first available cell on its route to the brain, destroying it before speeding along, shutting down organs in a devastating, organ by organ, manner. 

The have a protrusion (axon) that extends from the cell body to another nerve cell or organ along specific transmission routes. The axons play a crucial role in the rapid transmission of electric impulses, transporting molecular materials over these distances.

By fully understanding how the rabies virus manipulates the transport machinery, we could potentially restore the process in the future or even manipulate it for therapeutic purposes.

Rabies is not only transmitted by a bite or exposure to a rabid dog. Even a lick on an open wound from infected saliva or a spit from rabid animal, can transport the virus. If exposed to rabies virus, it’s crucial to wash the area with clean running clean water and seek immediate medical attention.