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Field Postmortem Rabies Rapid Immunochromatographic Diagnostic Test for Resource-Limited Settings with Further Molecular Applications
Published on: June 29, 2020
Human rabies encephalitis prevention and treatment: progress since Pasteur's discovery
Laurent Dacheux1, Olivier Delmas, Hervé Bourhy
1Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Unit, National Reference Center for Rabies, WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Cedex, France. laurent.dacheux@pasteur.fr
Infectious Disorders Drug Targets
|April 15, 2011
Summary
Rabies is a deadly viral zoonosis transmitted by dogs, causing fatal encephalomyelitis. While post-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective, rabies remains a neglected global health issue, with limited curative options once symptoms appear.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Rabies is an ancient, fatal viral zoonosis transmitted by infected dogs, causing encephalomyelitis.
- Despite effective post-exposure prophylaxis since 1885, rabies causes an estimated 55,000 deaths annually, primarily in Africa and Asia.
- Currently, no effective treatment exists once clinical signs of rabies manifest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of human rabies prevention and treatment.
- To provide background on the rabies virus and the disease it causes.
- To analyze antiviral treatments and explore potential new therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on rabies.
- Description of the rabies virus and its pathogenesis.
- Overview of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) history and future directions.
- Analysis of in vitro, animal model, and human studies on antiviral compounds.
Main Results:
- Post-exposure prophylaxis offers nearly 100% protection if administered promptly.
- The 2004 case of rabies recovery after aggressive treatment remains unreplicated.
- Identifying targets for effective antiviral treatment for rabies is a significant challenge.
Conclusions:
- Rabies remains a critical, neglected public health concern despite advancements in prevention.
- Developing effective curative treatments for rabies is an urgent unmet medical need.
- Further research into antiviral compounds and novel therapeutic strategies is essential for combating rabies.
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