Pseudorabies, also known as Aujeszky's disease, infectious bulbar palsy, false rabies and pruritic plague are acute viral disease, with an extremely unfavorable prognosis. All types of domestic animals, including dogs, can suffer from pseudorabies. But while farm animals can recover with timely treatment, Aujeszky's disease in dogs usually ends in death.
Pseudorabies – the causative agent of the disease and sources of infection
Pseudorabies is caused by one of the viruses of the Herpesviridae family. The pathogen is highly pathogenic and dangerous to all types of domestic animals. Studies have shown that the virus is highly sensitive to temperature. So, for example, at 70 degrees Celsius the virus is destroyed in 15 minutes, and at 100 degrees – instantly. Moreover, it persists in animal corpses for more than six months, and in dog feces and farm animal manure for up to two weeks.
Main source of infection, causing disease Aujeszki are sick animals. Infection can occur both through direct contact with a sick animal and through the use of general subjects everyday life. Dogs most often become ill with pseudorabies by eating non-neutralized meat and offal obtained from sick or recovered animals.
Symptoms and diagnosis of the disease
As a rule, pseudorabies in dogs occurs in acute form and leads to the death of the animal. Symptoms and clinical signs of the disease include:
Decreased appetite in the early stages of the disease and complete failure from eating later.
Increased excitability, restlessness or fearfulness.
Localized (local) or generalized (general) itching. In some cases, the itching is so severe that the dog may scratch himself to the bone.
Profuse salivation.
All of the above symptoms of pseudorabies are observed in recently ill animals. After one or two days, the picture of the disease changes - the dog enters the stage deep depression, conditioned organic lesions brain, as well as physical and mental exhaustion. After this, the animal develops paralysis of the larynx and pharynx, convulsions, etc.
As a rule, death from Aujeszky's disease occurs 48 hours after the first appearance. clinical signs diseases. Pseudorabies is diagnosed based on the results of laboratory tests and pathological data.
Aujeszky's disease - treatment and prevention
Currently, there is no effective treatment for pseudorabies. This is explained primarily by the rapid course of the disease. As mentioned above, the animal dies 1-2 days after the first signs of Aujeszky’s disease appear. That is why great attention must be paid preventive measures, which primarily involve timely vaccination of the dog and avoidance of feeding raw meat obtained from sick or recovered animals.
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Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies, infectious bulbar palsy, "pruritic plague", "rabid scabies") is an acute viral infectious disease occurring in the form of enzootics at any time of the year of all types of domestic and wild animals, including fur-bearing animals and rodents, characterized by damage to the central nervous system, respiratory organs, severe itching and scratching in all animals, with the exception of pigs, minks and sables.
Historical reference. Aujeszky's disease was first reported in 1902. in Hungary A. Aujeszky cattle, dogs and cats, in the future this disease began to be diagnosed in other countries of the world. Today, Aujeszky's disease is widespread throughout the world.
Economic damage from illness consists of losses resulting from the death of animals, forced slaughter, loss of live weight, abortions, rejection of carcasses at meat processing plants, costs from the neutralization of meat and skins, treatment of sick animals and costs associated with preventive vaccinations. Especially great economic damage occurs during an outbreak of the disease in pig and fur farms. The mortality rate of young pigs and fur-bearing animals with this disease reaches 80-90% . Cattle usually also die from the disease.
Etiology. The causative agent of the disease contains DNA filterable virus related to herpes viruses. The virus is resistant to external environment. Direct sunlight kills it after 5-6 hours, scattered rays kill it after 15-20 hours. In hay, grain feed, water, manure, sawdust, boards and bristles of pigs, the virus persists in the winter - 14-16, in the spring - 7-35, in the summer - 7-20 days, in the autumn-summer period - 19-60 days. With biothermal disinfection of manure, the virus dies in 8-15 days. At low temperatures (from minus 8 to minus 25), the virus persists for up to 110 days.
Under the influence of a 3% solution of sodium hydroxide, a 1% solution of formaldehyde, a clarified solution of bleach with 3% active chlorine, as well as a 20% suspension of freshly slaked lime, the virus is killed within 5-20 minutes. Antibiotics and sulfa drugs Unlike bacterial infections They have no effect on Aujeszky's virus.
Epizootology. IN natural conditions Aujeszky's disease affects all types of farm animals (pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses), domestic animals (dogs, cats), fur animals, wild animals (boars, rats, foxes, etc.).
There is a species and age susceptibility of animals to Aujeszky's disease. Pigs, dogs, cats and rodents get sick most often, cattle and fur-bearing animals get sick less often, and horses, donkeys and mules get sick even less often. The disease in cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and cats is most severe and almost always ends in the death of the animal. Young animals of all types of animals more susceptible to Aujeszky's disease, compared to adult animals.
Laboratory animals are the most susceptible to Aujeszky's virus. rabbits, as well as young cats, Guinea pigs and white mice are less susceptible.
The main source of infection is Aujeszky's sick animals and virus carriers., which secrete the virus with nasal mucus, conjunctival secretions, urine, milk and vaginal discharge. Recovered pigs can be virus carriers for 187 days incl. excrete in urine for up to 160 days. Isolation of the virus in milk from sick sows lasts 3-5 days and is the main epizootological factor in the pigsty that contributes to the spread of the disease among suckling piglets.
On livestock farms, private household plots and peasant farms, especially where regular deratization work is not carried out, a major role in the introduction and spread among animals is played by: rats, mice among which the disease Aujeszky's disease can acquire the character of recurring enzootic. Rodents are the main reservoir of the virus in nature. Typically, in practice, diseased rodents and their carcasses are eaten by carnivores and pigs, so the death of rodents, cats and dogs often precedes the appearance of the disease on a farm. Death on a cat farm is a harbinger of Aujeszky's disease. In gray rats, the Aujeszky's disease virus is contained in the lungs, urine and brain during the period of their illness. For 130-140 days after recovery, rats continue to carry the virus.
On farms, the disease can spread through the corpses and meat of sick animals. Premises, camp areas, feed, and bedding contaminated with secretions of sick animals and virus carriers are factors in the spread of this disease.
Pathogenesis. With alimentary and aerogenic methods of infection, the virus gets on the mucous membranes respiratory tract And oral cavity begins to multiply quickly and subsequently begins to spread throughout the body via neurolymphogenous pathways. As a result of the accumulation and reproduction of the virus, animals develop septicemia, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, disruption of all types of metabolism and the development hemorrhagic diathesis. The entry of the virus into the brain causes the development of non-purulent lymphocytic encephalitis in animals and the appearance of nervous syndrome. Submiliary necrosis occurs in the liver, spleen, tonsils, and sometimes in the lungs, kidneys, and lymph nodes. In pregnant animals, Aujeszky's virus penetrates the uterus and fetuses through the blood, resulting in abortions in pregnant animals, stillbirth and mummified fruits. When the virus is introduced through the skin (in cattle), it quickly accumulates at the site of introduction, increases the content of histamine and acetylcholine, and develops severe itching (with the exception of pigs and fur-bearing animals).
Course and symptoms of the disease. Duration of incubation (hidden) period from one day to 20 days and depends on the method of infection, the virulence of the virus, environmental conditions and immune status body. The course of the disease is always acute.
In pigs, Aujeszky's disease is not accompanied by itching. Clinical signs in pigs manifest differently depending on age. The disease is more malignant in suckling and weaned piglets. In piglets up to 10 days the disease occurs in the form acute septicemia. Piglets become infected in utero or immediately after birth from sows through infected milk. There is an increase in body temperature to 41 C and above degrees, piglets cannot move, suck, spasms of the pharynx occur, hiccups, salivation, sick piglets do not make any sounds. The death of piglets occurs through 4-12 hours, sometimes within a day.
In suckling piglets older than 10 days of age, weaned piglets and young gilts, Aujeszky's disease occurs with damage to the central nervous system, manifested by convulsions, epileptic seizures with grinding of teeth, drooling, foaming from the mouth, and progressive aphonia. In piglets aged from 10 days to 3-4 months, the disease begins with an increase in body temperature to 41-42 degrees, depression, drowsiness and poor mobility. Later the piglets develop signs of damage to the central nervous system. Depending on what processes predominate in the central nervous system - excitation or inhibition is usually distinguished encephalitic (epileptic) and oglum-like and mixed forms of the disease.
Epileptic form. Piglets that are completely healthy upon external examination suddenly suddenly fall into excited state, restlessness, all the time they uncontrollably strive forward, while bumping into obstacles, climbing the wall of the cage, making playpen movements, the piglets' vision is impaired, the pupils are dilated. Cervical spasms appear masticatory muscles, as well as the muscles of the spinal musculature (we observe arching of the spine), we hear the grinding of teeth. Rising skin sensitivity When the skin is touched, the piglets squeal and often fall, throwing their heads back while making swimming movements with their limbs. Piglets develop conjunctivitis, and we observe discharge from the nose and eyes.
These epileptoform seizures begin will be repeated more and more often, bring the animal to complete exhaustion. Some sick piglets take a sitting dog pose, making circular or nodding movements with their heads, while other piglets run around the cage all the time, bump into each other, and climb on obstacles. At the beginning of the disease, the piglets squeal loudly when touched, then the piglets develop aphonia due to paralysis of the larynx.
As the disease progresses, sick piglets show signs of paralysis of the visual center, vocal cords, muscles of the pharynx and larynx, and then progressive paralysis of the body muscles develops.
Oglum-like shape. With this form of the disease, sick piglets can stand motionless for hours, with their head bowed or their heel resting on the ground or wall. When moving, such piglets experience unsteady gait, legs pulled up under the stomach; as a result developing paralysis piglets stand on your wrists and rest your head on the ground. We often observe head curvature and changes in position ears . In both forms of the disease, we note increased breathing and heart rate. Always happens lung damage, and their advancing swelling leads to sharply increasing shortness of breath. The disease lasts from several hours to 2-3 days.
At mixed form illness, excitement gives way to depression. For the erased form of Aujeszky is characterized by general weakness, drowsiness, lack of appetite, may sometimes appear cough. The disease continues from 2 to 7 days and very rarely up to 10-14 days.
In suckling and weaned piglets it also occurs gastrointestinal form of the disease, accompanied by an increase in body temperature to 40-41 degrees, lack of appetite, vomiting, and sometimes the development bloody diarrhea and rapid death of the animal.
Often found in pigsties pulmonary (influenza-like) form, which occurs without signs of damage to the central nervous system. Pulmonary form the disease begins with the pigs refusing to feed, the temperature rising to 41-42 degrees, coughing, mucopurulent discharge from the nose, conjunctivitis, rapid breathing. Sick piglets develop pneumonia. The death of an animal occurs through 1-2 days.
Morbidity in piglets 2 weeks of age may reach up to 70-100%, with mortality up to 80-100% . In older piglets, the mortality rate is 40-80% . The surviving piglets have various types complications(blindness, paresis and paralysis of the limbs), which makes them unsuitable for further fattening and such piglets on farms are handed over to a sanitary slaughterhouse.
Adult pigs and gilts disease tolerate the disease much more easily and often have side effects service personnel goes unnoticed. The staff notes in such pigs the appearance nonspecific signs as - lethargy, fever, cough, signs of rhinitis or conjunctivitis. The disease lasts 3-5 days and only in some cases up to 12-14 days. In gilts often have to observe pulmonary form diseases up to the development severe pneumonia, occasionally gastrointestinal form. Damage to the central nervous system in gilts is quite rare (in 2-10% of cases), but it is accompanied by a malignant course and death of the animal. In sows in case of illness Lactation is disrupted, abortions and the birth of stillborn and mummified fetuses occur.
In cattle the incubation period lasts from 2 to 20 days, the disease begins with an increase in temperature body up to 41.9-42.1 degrees the animal experiences lethargy, refusal to feed, stops chewing cud, rumen hypotension, and milk yield sharply decreases. Severe itching appears in the eyes, nostrils, lips, cheeks and sometimes on other parts of the body, which in animals is accompanied by severe scratching of the skin. Sick animals are very worried, continuously lick itchy places, rub against surrounding objects, begin to gnaw the skin with their teeth, the skin scratches until it bleeds and swells. Able strong excitement the animal becomes enraged, tries to break free from its leash, grinds its teeth, stomps its feet, moos, groans, throws itself at walls, bumps into objects, falls to the floor, rolls over. Such an animal has a frightened look, convulsive contractions of the neck and chewing muscles occur, twitching of the lips, facial muscles, muscles of the shoulder girdle and back, the head is thrown back, the back bends. In sick animals we note severe drooling, increased urge to urinate, nervous tremors and sweating. As a result of the disease, animals are greatly weakened, most lie for a while and subsequently fall into a state of prostration. After 1-4 days, the animal dies. Cases of recovery are extremely rare.
In cases where a sick animal has no itching or scratching, we note an increase in secretion of saliva and sweat, atony of the proventriculus begins to develop, which then turns into tympania of the rumen, we note in the animal extreme thirst, the pulse quickens. Wherein bouts of anxiety alternate with periods of numbness and drowsiness. With signs of increasing weakness, the animal dies.
Sheep and goats get sick with the same ones signs like cattle. Unlike the clinical picture of the disease in cattle, the disease occurs with symptoms of greater arousal. The disease lasts from 1 to 3 days. People who suffer from Aujeszky's disease are especially severe lambs and their death occurs within 1-2 days. Cases of recovery in sheep and goats occur only if the disease in them was erased.
Carnivores (cats, dogs, fur animals) in case of Aujeszka's disease they refuse from food (anorexia), become restless and fearful, there is profuse drooling. The majority of sick dogs and cats have characteristic itching in area nose, ears, around the lips, cheeks, as well as in certain areas of the torso and legs. Itching (modified painful sensation) happens in dogs both local and general, spreading over most of the body surface. Itching in dogs is often so unbearable that the dog becomes uncontrollable, which is why dog owners call this condition “crazy itching” or “crazy scabies”. Sick dogs scratch itchy areas of skin vigorously, to the point that they gnaw out the itchy area of skin right down to the subcutaneous tissue. Such injuries characteristic of Aujeszky occur 50% sick animals. Deep scratching, systematic itching and associated encephalomyelitis cause inappropriate behavior in the dog, similar in some clinical symptoms to rabies: the dog constantly howls, whines or barks, rolls on its back, gnaws inedible objects (earth, sticks, grass, etc.), in some attacks other animals in cases However, unlike rabies rarely aggressive, drink water greedily. Some dogs and cats may have little or no itching. Such dogs are at the height of their illness 1-2 days and the owners, it is often missed, then the initial stage quickly turns into deep depression leading the dog to mental and physical exhaustion (asthenic depression) and to severe brain damage (symptomatic depression). Later the dog Paralysis of the pharynx, larynx, and convulsions develop and so on. Death in dogs usually occurs 48 hours after the onset of clinical signs of the disease.
In 12-25% of sick cats, scratching and itching do not stop until death, it comes to the point that cats may chew out skin and muscle at the site of severe itching to the bone. In sick animals, itching most often occurs in the area lips or base of ears.
In cats a shorter course of the disease is noted - from 6-8 to 18-20 hours. Aujeszky's disease is manifested by continuous meowing, profuse salivation, dilated pupils, and sharply increased reflex excitability. Outcome of the disease in cats 100% of cases fatal. The death of cats occurs through 12-36 hours, in some cases the disease lasts up to 96 hours.
In lush animals(foxes, arctic foxes, raccoons, wolves) the disease begins with depression, refusal to feed, vomiting. Then it begins to join the above signs itching and increased symptoms of excitement. At the minks almost almost never there is no itching. The disease in minks occurs with symptoms uncoordinated movements, shortness of breath, general weakness and difficulty swallowing. Other fur-bearing animals also have no symptoms of itching. The duration of the disease in foxes is 1-48 hours, in minks - 1-24 hours, in raccoons and arctic foxes - 2-3 days.
In horses Unlike other animal species, the disease occurs more benign. Accompanied by quickly passing malaise, lethargy and loss of appetite, sagging in the back and lumbar region. After 2-4 days, the above signs in the horse disappear. At malignant course, which usually occurs in young animals, there is severe itching in the head area, muscle tremors, severe nervous excitement, and sometimes convulsions. When there is noise, the horse shudders, backs away, climbs onto the wall of the stall, makes a hoarse neigh, and there is profuse salivation. The illness lasts 1-2 days. After recovery from illness, we often meet complication of blindness.
Pathological changes. During the autopsy of dead animals leather(except for pigs) in the area of the head, back and limbs, it is often damaged, swollen and hyperemic, the subcutaneous tissue is hemorrhagically infiltrated, areas of scratching that are devoid of hair are visible. When opening the abomasum and intestines, we find hyperemia and hemorrhages in the mucous membrane, catarrhal and sometimes hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Stomach usually overflowing with food: sometimes (especially in carnivores) we find wool, straw, wood chips and others foreign objects. IN parenchymal organs congestive hyperemia and granular dystrophy. A characteristic pathomorphological sign of Auesuski's disease is the presence in the liver, spleen, lungs, heart, tonsils, less often in the kidneys and lymph nodes of multiple or single grayish-yellow necrotic foci the size of poppy to millet grains. In the kidneys, spleen, cardiac muscle, epicardium, and in the area of the heart valves there are multiple pinpoint hemorrhages. Degenerative-inflammatory changes in the heart muscle in dogs are characteristic feature Aujeszky's disease.
In pigs pathological changes in Aujeszky's disease have a number of significant features. They often have complications: in the lungs - various types of pneumonia, in the pharynx and larynx - ulcerative-necrotic processes. Pigs do not scratch.
In aborted fetuses and piglets up to 2 weeks of age, we find serous-catarrhal conjunctivitis, swelling of the eyelids, hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, catarrhal laryngopharyngitis, in some piglets necrotizing tonsillitis, pinpoint hemorrhages in the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, under the pleura, epicardium, in the spleen, cortex layer of the kidneys, catarrhal gastroenteritis. In the liver, kidneys and spleen we sometimes note congestion and granular degeneration. The heart is stretched, the myocardium is flabby, grayish-red in color. The lungs are swollen, in a state of congestive hyperemia, and occasionally we find catarrhal bronchopneumonia.
In piglets that died at an older age (before weaning), pathological changes such same, as in newborns, only they do not have billionaire necrosis in the mucous membrane and parenchymal organs. In gilts and adult pigs, against the background of general septic phenomena, croupous-diphthyritic and ulcerative-necrotic lesions of the mucous membrane of the pharynx with tonsils, larynx, and trachea are clearly expressed. The lungs are swollen. In the gastrointestinal tract - acute catarrhal gastroenteritis, less often hemorrhagic or fibrinous enteritis.
The diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease is made comprehensively, taking into account epidemiological data, clinical signs of the disease, pathological autopsy data with the obligatory conduct of virological studies and bioassays on laboratory animals (rabbits, puppies, cats). For laboratory testing they are sent to the veterinary laboratory. whole carcass of a small animal, from large animals are sent head or brain, pieces of liver, lungs, spleen and The lymph nodes . With a positive bioassay in experimental animals at the site of administration of the suspension itching develops, a typical picture of Aujeszky's disease and after 3-5 days the experimental animals die.
To detect and titrate virus-neutralizing antibodies, use RN, RNG, RDP, RSK, PCR etc. The diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease is considered established with a positive bioassay or virus isolation and identification.
Differential diagnosis. Aujeszky's disease must be distinguished from , , , , influenza, Taschen disease,, feed toxicosis, poisoning table salt and vitamin deficiencies.
Immunity. After recovering from the disease, animals develop a fairly strong immunity for up to 1-3 years, while adult pigs acquire immunity for many years. In the blood of recovered animals are found virus-neutralizing and complement-fixing antibodies, as well as agglutinins, precipitins and opsonins. As a result of receiving antibodies with colostrum from the sow, suckling piglets acquire collostral immunity.
As a means passive immunization used for Aujeszky's disease hyperimmune serum and specific gamma globulin. They are used in endangered and disadvantaged farms according to Aujeszki for preventive and therapeutic purposes.
Immunity in pigs vaccinated with serum lasts 10-15 days, in pigs vaccinated with globulin - 3-4 weeks. After this period, animals are vaccinated against Aujeszky's disease. Animals that have recovered from or been cured by means of passive immunization are not subject to vaccination.
For active specific immunization of Aujeszky's disease, the following is used:
- Dry culture virus vaccine VGNKI against Aujeszky's disease. In farms unaffected by Aujeszky's disease, piglets are vaccinated from 2 days of age twice with an interval of 20-25 days. For suckling piglets aged 2-15 days, the vaccine is administered subcutaneously at the first vaccination, and intramuscularly at the second. Suckling piglets vaccinated at the age of 2-15 days are revaccinated once after the second vaccination after 2 months. In farms threatened by Aujeszky's disease, pigs are vaccinated from 16-20 days of age. Pregnant sows on farms endangered by Aujeszky's disease are vaccinated no later than a month before farrowing, and in unfavorable farms they are allowed to be vaccinated 7-10 days before. Immunity in pigs after the first vaccination with a virus vaccine occurs after 5-7 days and persists in those twice vaccinated for 15-16 months, with the exception of suckling piglets vaccinated at 2-15 days of age, which are revaccinated after 2 months.
- For vaccination of pigs, a virus vaccine from the BUK-628 strain is used, which provides fast recovery and reliable sanitization of the pigsty from virus carriage.
- Fur animals, pigs and sheep are vaccinated inactivated culture vaccine against Aujeszky's disease. Immunity after vaccination in animals occurs within 8-10 days and lasts for at least 6 months in fur-bearing animals, and 10 months in pigs and sheep.
- Vaccine against Aujeszky's disease and swine erysipelas, emulsified. Associated vaccines against Aujeszky's disease and other infectious animal diseases have been developed.
Control and prevention measures Aujeszky's diseases are regulated by instructions approved by the Main Veterinary Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Agriculture dated March 20, 1968.
In order to protect the farm from the introduction of Aujeszky's disease into healthy farms, animal owners must complete their livestock only from the prosperous By infectious diseases farms with preliminary quarantine imported animals. It is prohibited to purchase pigs from fattening farms for reproduction of herds by exchange. Accepted radical measures By extermination of rodents, prevention of entry into farms stray dogs and cats. In farms where slaughterhouse and kitchen waste is used, they are organized reliable disinfection before feeding. Systematic disinfection work is carried out on the farm and, if necessary, preventive vaccination animals against Aujeszky's disease.
When a diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease is made on the farm quarantine is imposed by the decree of the Governor of the region. Under the terms of quarantine, it is prohibited: the entry and exit of animals susceptible to Aujeszky's disease, their regrouping within the farm and premises; removal from the farm of leather, sheepskins and skins without prior disinfection, as well as feed and fodder; mating of animals; weighing and tattooing animals; feeding animals concentrated and succulent feed without pre-cooking it.
At the unfavorable point, a clinical examination of the entire livestock is carried out with selective thermometry. Sick and suspected animals are isolated and treated with specific globulin and symptomatic means. Thorough mechanical cleaning and disinfection of the premises and territory of the farm is carried out. Liquid manure is disinfected with bleach at the rate of 12 kg of lime per 1 cubic meter liquid manure. The corpses of dead animals are burned or disposed of in Beccari pits. Newborn piglets before feeding with colostrum, suckling piglets suspected of infection, sows two weeks before farrowing are administered with for preventive purposes specific globulin and after 3 weeks they are vaccinated against Aujeszky's disease.
All clinically healthy pigs, starting from 2 days of age, are vaccinated against Aujeszky's disease. Animals that have recovered from the disease are put into fattening and, after reaching delivery weight, sent for slaughter.
Quarantine are removed from the farm 1 month after the cessation of the disease, the removal of ill animals from it and the implementation of a full range of veterinary and sanitary measures. After the quarantine is lifted, pigs are routinely vaccinated against Aujeszky's disease for a year. Export of vaccinated animals is permitted only to similar farms.
The farm is considered completely healthy if a healthy offspring is obtained within 6 months after the cessation of vaccination. In the future, animals are exported from such farms without restrictions.
Infectious diseases in domestic animals is a broad and very complex topic. Some of them (rabies, leptospirosis, brucellosis and others) pose a real danger to human life and health. Fortunately, in most cases, people remain safe... But the same cannot be said about the life and health of their pets. For example, Aujeszky's disease in dogs. It is also called “false rabies”, since the symptoms for these pathologies are similar. This disease is acute. Very rarely detected chronic form, but this happens really rarely.
Aujeszky's disease (AD), caused by a virus (Suid herpesvirus) from the herpes virus family, was discovered by the Hungarian veterinarian Aujeszki (Aujeszki) in 1902. This pathology is well known to veterinarians: between 1980 and 1982, the British had to destroy pigs worth a total of 22.8 million pounds sterling. And this is only to prevent the further spread of the disease. Of course, no one will burn dogs and cats en masse, but the Aujeszky’s virus also causes many problems for the owners of these animals.
However, the situation with animal farms is even worse, since in the event of infection (mink, for example), their owners are left with nothing, since sick animals will have to be disposed of along with their skins.
The main source of infection is always sick animals. There are other distribution mechanisms, but they have practically no practical significance.
A huge number of malicious agents are released into environment with discharge from the oral and nasal cavities. The virus is also found in secretions from the external genitalia, in milk and (occasionally) in urine. Oddly enough, the pathogen is never excreted from the body in feces.
The virus is also spread by vaccinated but already INFECTED animals. It is important to understand that not only unvaccinated dogs, but also serum-treated dogs with poor immunity can be an excellent source of infection.
The virus spreads through airborne droplets and nutritional (food and drink) routes. Unfortunately, in the external environment the pathogen is quite stable, and therefore retains its ability to infect for a long time. The virus, dried in secretions on care items and released into the soil, can remain alive for 2-3 weeks in the summer. In winter, this period immediately increases to five to six weeks. It is reported that in dog kennels the pathogen can maintain its virulence (that is, the ability to infect) for up to 20 weeks! Of course, if the room has not been disinfected.
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Meat, lymph nodes, Bone marrow and offal of slaughtered pigs. Dogs become infected from these “delicacies” in 100% of cases. To destroy the virus, meat should be frozen (at a temperature of about -20 degrees Celsius) for at least 40 days. Additional viral sources for carnivores are rats and mice, which are natural reservoirs for many infections.
Susceptibility to infection depends on several factors: virulence, volume of infected substrate ingested, route of spread, breed, age and physiological state of the animal (for example, exposure to stress). For example, for oral infection (through food and drink), more virus is needed, and puppies are several times more likely to get sick than if they were compared with adult animals.
Symptoms
Incubation period occurs from the second to the fourth day after infection. Animals quickly lose their appetite and exhibit significant drooling, vomiting, and panting, but usually no fever. Periods of apathy alternate with periods of excitement, and some animals experience panic attacks.
On the contrary, the specialized literature describes numerous cases where dogs, after infection, became extremely gluttonous, and greedily ate several daily amounts of food in one sitting.
The dog seems to “bite” the surrounding air, but does not attack a person (!). During this same period, aggression towards other dogs and other pets is possible, which gives many owners reason to suspect that their pet has rabies. Soon the dog becomes very intimidated and nervous.
Important! Severe itching accompanied by self-mutilation occurs in most cases. By this we mean that the animal’s skin itches so much that it begins to gnaw at its paws, sometimes tearing them to the bone.
As with rabies, a wide variety of neurological symptoms are very often observed, manifested in inappropriate behavior (although much worse). Paralysis and/or paraplegia are often detected.
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Typically, death occurs within 24 hours of onset clinical symptoms. It should be noted that sick animals always prefer secluded, darkened places. Dogs may also howl hoarsely, with thick saliva bubbling up. The sight is not the most pleasant.
Again...important notes! Despite the abundance of foamy and bubbling saliva, it does not hang down to the floor, as happens with rabies!
Clinical diagnosis
The diagnosis of this disease is made on the basis of a combination of data from various clinical trials. Tests of blood, urine, and other biological fluids - all of them will help identify the very fact of the presence of the disease, but the pathogen cannot be found. What to do?
We will notify the owners immediately. If you do not have a veterinary education, then if your dog has the symptoms described in the article, try not to contact the animal, and isolate the dog itself “from society,” if possible by locking it in an enclosure. There is always a chance that the symptoms of Aujeszky's disease in dogs indicate rabies... Only an experienced veterinarian will be able to make the correct differential diagnosis, so don't take any chances!
Unfortunately, the most reliable diagnostic method is the examination of pathological material obtained during autopsy of dead animals.
Histological changes localized in the brain are very characteristic. They show a picture of non-purulent meningoencephalitis with relatively mild myelitis. More often (almost always) the cortex is affected, while the lesions do not go deep into the nerve trunks. Necrotic processes of accumulations of neurons, perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, neutrophilic granulocytes and macrophages are noticeable. Lesions of the spinal cord are very moderate, and often they do not exist at all. Is it possible to detect the virus during lifetime? Yes, but the dog simply may not live to see that moment. However, we will still describe the method.
Aujeszky's disease in dogs (pseudorabies, false form of rabies, infectious bulbar palsy, pruritic plague) – dangerous acute illness infectious in nature with an unfavorable prognosis, which affects many types of domestic, carnivorous, and agricultural animals. Most often this disease diagnosed in dogs, felines, pigs, rodents, and birds. Aujeszky's disease is manifested by fever, damage to the central nervous system (central nervous system), paresis, paralysis of the limbs, convulsions, severe itching, and scratching. Pseudorabies is especially dangerous for puppies and young dogs with an immature, weakened immune system.
The disease occurs in an acute form, and unfortunately, in dogs, regardless of age and breed, the disease is fatal.
Etiology, causative agent of Aujeszky's disease
This disease is caused by a DNA-containing filterable virus (Suid herpesvirus), belonging to the herpes virus family. The causative agent of false rabies is highly pathogenic for all species of the animal world. Resistant to low temperatures, chemical reagents, physical influences, but quickly dies under the influence of high temperature conditions, UV rays. in animal corpses, Aujeszky's virus remains active for up to six to seven months.
The main carriers of the pseudorabies virus include small rodents (voles, mice, rats). Infection occurs through direct close contact between healthy people and infected individuals, through eating infected rodents, contaminated feed, raw pork, meat that has not undergone proper processing, offal obtained from recovered, sick animals, or drinking water that contains the pathogen. Infection of dogs occurs through nutritional contact through household items and equipment during general maintenance. Transplacental infection is possible.
In rare cases, infection can occur through damaged skin, open wounds. Animals that have recovered from pseudorabies are latent bacteria carriers for a long period of time, releasing the virus into the external environment.
Initially, the localization of the DNA virus occurs in the organs of the lymphatic system, mucous membranes of the mouth, nasal cavity, and pharynx, after which it spreads throughout nerve pathways in the head, spinal cord. The incubation period, depending on the virulence of the virus and the physiological state of the body, lasts from one day to two weeks.
Symptoms of Aujesci's disease in dogs
Aujeszky's disease in dogs most often occurs in an acute form, that is, several days or even hours pass from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms. In most cases, false rabies ends in death.
A typical clinical picture of pseudorabies:
Unbearable hyperesthesia, itching. Animals find no place for themselves; they comb out the hair in the neck, tail, croup, back, muzzle (ears, lips, nose), and limbs. Itching can be localized and generalized. Severe itching leads to changes in the behavior of dogs. Animals literally become uncontrollable, agitated, can show aggression, and become fearful. There are multiple scratches and wounds on the body. Dogs can scratch their skin down to the bone.
Refusal to feed (anorexia). In the early stages of infection, a deterioration in appetite is noted, later, as the disease progresses, a complete refusal to eat.
Salivation (excessive drooling), rapid, difficult breathing, shortness of breath.
Sleep disturbances, severe thirst.
The temperature may rise by several degrees.
Seizures increased activity, excitability is replaced by apathy, drowsiness, depression, and numbness. The stage of deep depression and apathy occurs on the second day after the appearance of the first symptoms.
As the disease progresses, strong muscle spasms, unsteady gait, loss of orientation in space, curvature of the neck, paresis of the limbs, paralysis of the larynx, pharynx. Organic changes in brain structures are also detected. Death occurs within one to three days.
Diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease
To establish accurate diagnosis V veterinary clinics apply differential diagnosis, clarify the epizootological situation in the region. Auska's symptoms are similar to rabies and other infectious viral diseases. Additionally, a number of laboratory tests and tests are prescribed - RN, RSC, precipitation reaction in agar gel, immunofluorescence.
Treatment of Aujeszky's disease in dogs
Unfortunately, in veterinary practice effective methods There are no treatments, which in turn is explained by the high pathogenicity of the virus and the transient nature of the disease. In the early stages, animals are prescribed γ-globulin. For this reason, great attention must be paid to preventive methods. Avoid, prevent infection pet Timely vaccination will help. It is strictly not recommended to feed dogs that have not passed heat treatment pork meat, low-quality offal.
When keeping animals in large numbers in nurseries, regularly carry out disinfection and deratization, properly feed ready-made dry food, and pay attention to the maintenance and diet of animals. When the first symptoms appear, immediately separate the infected animal from the rest of the group of dogs.
Aujeszky's disease occurs in animals of all species and is characterized by damage to the central nervous system, severe itching and very deep scratching (except pigs). Synonyms: false rabies, infectious bulbar palsy, pseudorabies, “rabid scabies”, itchy plague. In dogs, Aujeszky's disease is usually fatal.
Aujeszky's disease is a DNA virus belonging to the herpesvirus family, with a very high pathogenicity for almost all animal species. It can survive in mouse corpses for up to six months, in manure for up to 2 weeks. Low resistance to high temperatures, at 70 degrees it dies within 15 minutes.
The disease is rarely recorded in dogs and cats; as a rule, it is associated with pigs (the mortality rate in piglets is almost 100%), but it still occurs. A person is not susceptible to the disease, but in some cases, especially in the presence of a source and reduced immunity, he can get sick.
Forms of pathology
Aujeszky's disease in cats occurs in 4 forms: classical, atypical, encephalitis and gastroenteritis.
Classic form of asthma characterized by agitation of the animal, followed by sharp depression, refusal of food, heavy salivation, thirst and vomiting. The cat constantly meows, licks its front paws, rubs its face, eyes and throat area. This is explained by the onset of paralysis of the pharynx, increased vomiting and salivation. In this case, the saliva becomes dark in color.
During examination, dilation of one pupil is sometimes detected. Cats experience severe itching in the neck, lips, front paws, and then the scratching spreads throughout the body. The cats huddle in a dark corner, where they soon fall into a coma and die.
Atypical form characterized by a mild manifestation of symptoms, with the manifestation of depression, loss of coordination, and profuse drooling. The cat is depressed and dies within two days.
Encephalitic form manifests itself according to the classic type, but coupled with more pronounced aggressiveness, loss of coordination of movement and paralysis.
Gastroenteritis form of asthma accompanied by severe pain in the stomach, vomiting with very severe course. It is very difficult to save a cat; the disease develops rapidly in a matter of hours.
Aujeszky's disease in humans is extremely rare and is transmitted through skin. Deaths not registered, but the disease causes a lot of trouble, including disability.
When making a diagnosis, it is important to differentiate asthma from allergies, plague, demodicosis and toxoplasmosis. In addition to collecting anamnesis, they conduct laboratory research, using the methods of RDP, RN, IF, RSK and bioassay.
VC DobroVet specialists draw the attention of animal owners to the fact that the diagnosis should only be made veterinarian upon examination, and if symptoms are pronounced, it is advisable to limit contact with a sick animal until the suspicion of rabies is removed.
Often the itching in animals becomes so unbearable that they (especially dogs) simply gnaw off areas of the body, right down to the subcutaneous tissue. 
Aujeszky's disease in dogs, like in other animals, is usually not treated because the prognosis is, in most cases, unfavorable. If the disease is “caught” on early stage, then you can use globulin, immunofan or fosprenil, together with antibiotic therapy and prevent the development of a secondary infection.
Prevention consists of timely examination of reservoir hosts (pigs, rats, mice).
Pets that are on the premises subsidiary farms, farms, etc. should not eat the meat of forcedly killed animals, especially if AD is suspected. In large nurseries and on farmsteads, it is necessary to destroy rats and mice in a timely manner.
The vaccine against Aujeszky's disease is used for immunoprophylaxis in dogs.
Veterinary center "DobroVet"
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