Pathogenesis of rabies in the rat

Three strains of rabies virus, one fixed and two street, were compared for invasiveness in neurectomized rats following foot pad inoculation. Approximately one-fifth of test rats studied revealed that the virus bypassed the severed sciatic and saphenous nerves and reached the brain. All rats dying within 20 days were positive for rabies upon fluorescent antibody and mouse mortality tests. Viremia was demonstrated in 20 per cent of both neurectomized or non-neurectomized rats one hour after inoculation of rabies virus, both fixed and street strains, into the foot pad.