INTRODUCTION
There are many diseases that affect human beings that can be devastating and lethal, which dominates science journals and media. However, there are some diseases that cannot effect human beings rarely, but can be just as destructive and severe on some of the very species we rely on for hunting, as livestock and, most disturbingly, the animals that humanity keep as pets, including cats and dogs. One such disease is pseudorabies. Pseudorabies has similar symptoms to rabies, but they are unrelated conditions caused by two very different viruses. Pseudorabies is more often than not a fatal condition. Unfortunately, even with attempted interventions the prognoses for the animal in question is that it will likely still lose its life. In order to understand the virus and its effects better is best to discuss its origins, symptoms, diagnoses, the possibility of treatments and potential preventions individually in more detail.
BACKGROUND
Pseudorabies is also called Aujeszky’s Disease, named after the Austrian veterinarian, Aladar Aujeszky, who first identified the disease. Pseudorabies is a form of the herpes virus, specifically, Suid herpevirus 1, which, once inside an animal’s body it attacks the peripheral nervous system (McCarthy, Tank, & Enquist, 2009). There are two forms of the conditions, the “classic” form, which lasts for 24 to 36 hours and in 60% of these cases the animal does not survive, while the “atypical” form may last for 36 hours or more and in 40% of cases the condition proves terminal. The causes of the contagion differs a bit from species to species (Pet MD, 2016). Pseudorabies is more likely to affect pigs, including boars and feral hogs, than any other. Among swine it is highly contagious and they are considered the natural hosts for the virus (Pedersen, Bevins, & et. al., 2013). The pseudorabies virus is most present around the nose and mouth; it is transferred quickly from pig to pig through snout to snout contact (Wisely, 2015). There is also a high level of threat from infected rats. However, pigs and rats are not the only species in danger, it can also affect sheep, goats, cattle, as well as the aforementioned, cats and dogs. In cases of cat and dog infection the condition does not easily spread from dog to dog and cat to cat, or from one to the others. Human beings can feasibly contract the condition as well, but that is incredibly rare (Pet MD, 2016).
DISCUSSION
Understanding its origins is not enough to fully understand the seriousness of this disease. Being able to recognize the symptoms, differentiate from other conditions, make the right diagnoses, attempt to treat the disease and, if plausible, effect tangible prevention is, also, highly important.
Symptoms
There is a long list of possible symptoms for pseudorabies, however there are instances, often seen in dogs, where the infected animals shows absolutely no visible or behavioral signs of illness at all and die suddenly. Many of the symptoms are similar to rabies, but only a professional can make that differentiation and provide a proper diagnosis. Some of the many symptoms are included below.
Fever: Like any infection the body responds with a fever in an effort to relieve the body of an invader (Pet MD, 2016).
Vomiting: Suffering animals may be unable to keep down food or water, leading to issues of dehydration (Pet MD, 2016).
Excessive salivation: Similar to rabies the excessive production of saliva produces the symptom referred to as “foaming at the mouth” (Pet MD, 2016).
Rapid or stressed breathing: Because they feel poorly and their bodies are working extra hard the strain on their heart contributes to the respiratory issues they experience (Zhang, Zhong & et. al., 2015).
Extreme lethargy/reluctant to move: An animal suffering from pseudorabies will become lazy, lack energy and are not eager to move (Pet MD, 2016).
Intense itching and scratching: This symptom causes serious itching that becomes so severe that the constant scratching leads to painful lesions on the skin and hair loss (Pet MD, 2016).
Convulsions: One of the most severe symptoms of pseudorabies is that as it attacks the peripheral nervous system it can cause the animal to have convulsions (Pet MD, 2016).
Coma: As the infection spreads and grows the animal’s body eventually may fall into a deep coma preceding their inevitable death (Pet MD, 2016).
Diagnosis
Again the veterinarian must make the determination of the condition in order to gain an accurate diagnosis. There are other conditions more common among pets that must be considered and eliminated. Again, in pigs the quick spread and death of herds are highly indicative of the contagion. In cattle the most prominent symptom is the serious itching, which leads to self mutilation to alleviate the itch. For felines the infection would at first present as a case of encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain (Thiry, Addie and et. al., 2013). In dogs the vet may consider, both actual rabies and canine distemper. However, rabies does not cause itching and canine distemper does not coincide with the other symptoms (Pet MD, 2016). However, regardless of perceived and visible symptoms it is through a blood test, which will present the antibodies of the pseudorabies presence.
Treatment
Unfortunately, as yet, there is no universal cure that can effectively treat pseudorabies. Dogs, cats and cattle remain the most likely to die when the disease is contracted (Wisely, 2015). However, there has been a great deal of progress in treating the condition in pigs. A vaccine has been tested that appears to be valuable preemptive strike against the disease. Because pigs are the most likely to start an outbreak and pseudorabies among pigs can even become airborne and affect other herds miles away. That said pig farmers are encouraged to vaccinate the entire herd to prevent the possibility of outbreak (United States Department of Agriculture, 2008).
Prevention
Because there is no cure for pseudorabies, then the only means of safeguarding livestock and household pets is to support preventative measures. There are four, rather common sense, actions that should be taken to prevent the likelihood of a pseudorabies outbreak.
Invest in having all pigs vaccinated against pseudorabies (Wisely, 2015).
Keep dogs and cats away from livestock paddocks and the animals themselves as often as possible (Pet MD, 2016).
Do not allow dogs and cats to eat undercooked and infected pork, which is the most common way dogs and cats come into contact with the virus (Pet MD, 2016).
Property owners should make certain to eliminate any rodent infestations as they also can transmit the contagion (Pet MD, 2016).
Because this condition manifests quickly and causes death in only first short days, many people have and may continue to lose beloved pets and needed livestock to pseudorabies. This kind of outbreak can devastate a working farm effecting animals of multiple species, including on those very rare occasions human beings (Pet MD, 2016). The United States, again, has not had a severe outbreak in a long time, but that is not the case for other nations, nations that may be developing countries and diseases like pseudorabies can hinder and prevent growth and make it impossible to keep the needed livestock animals healthy and bountiful (United States Department of Agriculture, 2008). There is a great deal of motivation to pursue future research and studies in order to find a means to eliminate the virus or, at least, medications and vaccines to protect multiple species and, ideally, facilitate functional prevention.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, pseudorabies can be serious but the instances of breakouts in the United States are low. However, that could change. If anyone hopes to defeat the virus, protect their livestock and livelihoods and, finally, household pets. Modern scholars know so much more about the nature about lethal disease and the viruses that cause them. Pseudorabies is no different. It is now necessary to take that information and use it to promote the development of treatments, cures and greater preventions. Ideally, if proactive measures being taken, then the disease could be eradicated not just from the United States and other developed countries, but countries all across the globe who struggle with the reality or potential of such an outbreak. More dedicated research into this topic is highly necessary, encouraged and entirely worthwhile.
REFERENCES
McCarthy, K.M., Tank, D.W. and Enquist, L.W. (2009).Pseudorabies virus infection alters
neuronal activity and connectivity in vitro. PLOS. 1.
Pedersen, K. and Bevins, S. and et. al. (2013). Pseudorabies in Feral Swine in the United States,
2009–2012. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 40(3). 709-713.
Thiry, E., Addie, D. and et. al. (2013).Aujeszky’s disease/pseudorabies in cats: ABCD guidelines
on prevention and management. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 15(7). 555-556.
Wisely, S. (2015).Facts about wildlife diseases: Pseudorabies. EDIS: University of Florida.1.
Retrieved March 19, 2016, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw388.
Zhang, L., Zhong, C. and et. al. (2015). Pathogenesis of natural and experimental Pseudorabies
virus infections in dogs. Virology Journal. 12(44). 1. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12985-015-0274-8
Pet MD. (2016). ‘Mad Itch' Pseudorabies Virus Infection in Dogs. Pet MD. 1-2. Retrieved March
19, 2016, from http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_multi_pseudorabies_virus_infection
United States Department of Agriculture. (2008). Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease) and Its
Eradication. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
` Technical Bulletin No. 1923. 1-244.
