Rabies virus
The Rabies Virus is an
organism
that frightens many people. It causes the disease
known as Rabies. Viruses are microscopic
organisms, so you can't see them with your eyes. Other
viruses you've probably heard of are flu viruses and AIDS.
Scientists are still learning about viruses. They are not
even sure where to put them when they organize other
organisms, like plants and animals, into groups. Copyright, Dr. Frederick
A. Murphy Scientists have split
viruses into Orders, Families, and Genera (genus). You can
see which groups the Rabies Virus is put into at the bottom
of the page. When scientists look at
the Rabies Virus under a powerful microscope, they see that
it is bullet-shaped (see pictures above). They also know it
is covered with tiny spikes. The Rabies Virus is
transmitted by saliva.
It passes from one animal to another when the first animal
bites the second animal. Once the Rabies Virus is in the
blood, it attacks cells.
The virus incubates,
which means it grows and changes (a lot like a baby bird in
an egg). Then it moves through the nerves, up the spinal
cord, to the brain.
Copyright, Dr. Frank Fenner
Once the virus is in the
brain, it spreads quickly to the rest of the body. Then the
host
(infected animal) shows signs of the disease. An animal with
Rabies first gets flu-like symptoms, including fever and
headaches. Then, as the disease spreads, the animal's brain
will not work properly. It will get confused, anxious,
agitated, and delirious. It will not behave normally. The
animal will hallucinate and it will not be able to
sleep. Animals, such as foxes
and raccoons, which normally come out at night, may be out
during the day if they have Rabies. The picture to the
right, of a rabid fox, shows an animal not behaving
normally.
