Pseudorabies

Pseudorabies is a viral disease caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV) that is classified under family Herpesviridae. This disease is also known as “Aujeszky’s disease” and “Mad itch”.

Epidemiology: The PRV primarily affects swine but is occasionally transmitted from pigs to cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, and wild animals. Pseudorabies is a rare zoonosis and may produce a mild, limited disease of 1 to 2 days duration. People may be infected by traumatic inoculation of infectious materials. Accidental inoculation may occur when veterinarians handling infected animal, farmers attending the ailing animals and laboratory workers involved in isolation of the virus.

Clinical features: There may be an intense itching at the site of inoculation that may be associated with headache, muscle soreness, and malaise.

Diagnosis: The PCR based identification of virus is the best method of diagnosis of pseudorabies. The presence of antibodies to PRV, in the absence of virus identification, is indicative of past exposure and warrants attention.