Understanding Pseudorabies: Causes, Symptoms, and Preve
Diagnostic Key Points
(1) The disease often occurs due to the ingestion of internal organs or carcasses of sick pigs or rats. It presents as sporadic outbreaks, with a higher incidence during the spring and autumn seasons. Infection can occur through the digestive tract, respiratory system, or skin and mucous membrane wounds. The incubation period ranges from 13 to 8 days.
(2) Itchy symptoms are common: Affected dogs may scratch or lick a specific wound, leading to rapid development of large, ulcerative lesions with swelling and tissue damage around them. Symptoms of encephalomyelitis include: depression or restlessness, loss of appetite, vomiting, crouching and lying down, hyper or hyporeflexia, drooling, difficulty swallowing, unequalsized pupils. The lips may spasm, and breathing may become labored. Dogs often die within 24 to 36 hours after the onset of symptoms, with a 100% fatality rate.
(3) Common skin lesions, meningeal congestion, and increased cerebrospinal fluid are observed.
(4) Laboratory testing is the only way to confirm the disease, which includes methods such as inclusion body examination, fluorescent antibody testing, virus isolation, animal inoculation, and electron and immunoelectron microscopy.
(5) It is important to differentiate this disease from rabies, as rabies does not present with the intense itching symptoms.
Treatment Methods
There is no effective treatment for this disease. Infected dogs should be isolated and culled, and their bodies should be cremated or buried deep underground. If conditions permit, the use of hyperimmune serum can be considered.
Preventive Measures
(1) Cook meat thoroughly before feeding it to dogs.
(2) Eradicate rodents and strictly prohibit dogs from consuming dead rodents.
(3) There is currently no suitable vaccine available for use.
Caution: This disease poses a certain risk to humans as well, with symptoms such as severe itching of the skin, which typically does not lead to death.
