A case report of Rabies in a horse in Tabriz, Iran

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease with an approximately global distribution and wide host range. Rabies is caused by a Lyssavirus (Rhabdoviridae) that infects the nervous system and salivary glands. In this study, an occurrence of rabies in a horse in Iran is reported. In the spring of 2014 a Kurd stallion with severe abnormal behavior was examined in the suburb of Tabriz. The history was taken and the clinical signs that were obvious consisted of: changes in behaviors such as severe aggressive mood and anxiety, ataxia, circling, severe drooling and salivation, muscle tremors, photophobia, and abnormal biting; fusion mode and hypersensitivity were also seen. Body temperature was 39 oC. To confirm the diagnosis of disease, brain sample was taken by the special rabies sampling device and sent to the rabies laboratory. Because rabies is suspected, to identify the rabies virus the sample was examined using Fluorescence Antibody Test (FAT) in which the observation of the oval apple-green Negri-bodies is diagnostic of the disease. Due to the aggressive behavior and the severity of furious type of the disease and regarding to biting and even killing some sheep by the horse, the stallion was fasten by chains and finally euthanized with presumptive diagnosis of rabies. At the end the case was reported to the provincial Veterinary Organization office. Although the incidence of rabies is low (about %5) in horses and it is relatively uncommon disease in this species, the potential for human exposure highlights the importance of the disease to be investigated in horses.