Rhabdoviruses

Rhabdoviruses

Introduction

Rabies virus is the most important member of the rhabdoviridae family, which causes disease in humans. It causes rabies, a rec-ognized zoonotic disease worldwide. Rabies is the most fatal infection in humans. No specific antirabies agents are useful, once clinical signs or symptoms develop.

Classification

The family Rhabdoviridae is classified into two genera: Lyssavirus and Vesiculovirus. The genus Lyssavirus consistsof more than 80 viruses and includes a rabies serogroup, which consists of 10 viruses including the classic rabies virus. The rabies virus is the prototypical human Lyssavirus pathogen. Other viruses included in this group are Mokola virus, Duvenhage virus, Obodhiang virus, Kotonkan virus, Rochambeau virus, European bat Lyssavirus types 1 and 2, and Australian bat Lyssavirus. These viruses rarely cause human disease. The genusVesiculovirus includes vesicular stomatitis virus and other viruses infecting vertebrates and invertebrates.

Rabies Virus

Rabies virus causes rabies, a viral infection of the central and peripheral nervous systems that causes encephalitis with or without paralysis. It is mostly fatal.