Dumb (paralytic) rabies in dogs in Nigeria

Five cases of dumb rabies were examined, quarantined and observed from the time of presentation until death. Two of the dogs bit four people, three children and an adult. Ages of dogs ranged from eight weeks to 30 months. Only one of these dogs had been vaccinated against rabies. One dog out of the five was simultaneously affected with trypanosomiasis and inapparent rabies. The predominant diagnostic clinical signs were conjunctival congestion, glazed eyes and idiopathic ataxia. Postmortem examination was performed on two dogs. Rabies was confirmed by the finding of Negri bodies in brain smears and by the mouse inoculation test (MIT).