From:
Karen Purcell, DVM
Date: 2001-10-03 11:07:00 UTC
Subject: Re: rabies
Rob wrote:
>
> I think the answer to Ms. Snyder's question lies with negative specificity.
> Sukie started on it when she described the way rabies progresses. Rabies
> virus will eventually turn up in corneal and saliva samples of infected
> animals but we want to be sure the animal *couldn't* transmit rabies, not
> that it could. The only method we currently have to assure a bite victim
> (or PH official) that the animal is/was 100% incapable of transmitting the
> disease is by staining and fluoroscoping brain tissue. If the brain tissue
> sample shows positive the animal may or may not have been shedding. If the
> brain tissue is negative then we're certain the animal could not have been
> shedding at the time of the bite.
>
This is excellent. Thank you for having more details than my foggy
brain could provide.
-Dr. Karen
drkaren@w...