Showing 2 results for Howaizi
Atefeh Pilehvar Zavareh, Mohammadreza Mahzounieh, Mohammadreza Shirzadi, Rouzbeh Bashar, Alireza Zavareh, Nader Howaizi, Firuzeh Farahtaj, Alireza Janani, Alireza Gholami,
Volume 2, Issue 2 (4-2014)
Abstract
Introduction: The most common mode of rabies virus transmission is through a bite wound or contact of broken skin with saliva of a rabid animal. Various other routes of virus transmission include exposure of mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, nose, and mouth) to infected saliva of a rabid animal, aerosol transmission, and corneal transplantation. Laboratory workers during work with rabies virus and veterinarians during examination and surgery of rabid animals may be at risk for exposure to saliva or other infectious fluids splashing into their eyes. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of ocular rabies pathogenesis in mice as an animal model. Our results will determine if rabies virus strains challenge virus standard (CVS) and street rabies virus (SRV) are able to infect the central nervous system (CNS) of mice through the ocular route. Methods: This study was performed in two experiments. In experiment 1, different lethal doses of fixed rabies virus strain CVS were made and instilled into both eyes of test mice. In experiment 2, concentrated rabies virus strains CVS and SRV were instilled into both eyes of the test mice. Mice in all groups were kept for 3 months and tested by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) for detection of the presence of viral antigen in brain tissue. Results: Mice with ocular instillation of fixed and street rabies viruses developed no clinical symptoms of rabies and all were healthy and alive during the 3-month observation period. The FAT results were negative in both experiments. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CVS and SRV viruses are not able to infect the CNS of mice via intact conjunctiva and cornea.
Alireza Gholami, Siamak Massoudi, Majid Kharazian Moghaddam, Mahmoud Ghazi Marashi, Mahyar Marashi, Rouzbeh Bashar, Ahmad Fayaz, Maryam Fazeli, Firouzeh Farahtaj, Nader Howaizi, Mohammad Reza Shirzadi,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (7-2017)
Abstract
Introduction: In Iran, 95% of animal bites are attributed to domestic dogs and cats, while one-third of rabies victims are from wildlife. The wolf is one of the primary vectors of wildlife in the country. This study was aimed to assess the impact of wildlife on rabies transmission and to evaluate the efficacy of an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) in the gray wolf (Canis lupus pallipes). Methods: We studied the incidence of wolf attacks by analyzing a 10-year period of data (2000 to 2009) available in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Veterinary Organization and Pasteur Institute of Iran. In the next step, five captive gray wolves were fed by Raboral V-RG® vaccine baits (Merial®, part of Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany) and monitored for rabies neutralizing antibodies over 20 months by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Results: Our analysis showed that 55% of animal bites occurred in rural areas and the remaining in urban areas. The most rabid wolves were from Fars province in southern Iran. The vaccine baits were palatable for the hungry wolves. Seroconversion with antibodies titers ≥0.5 IU/ml occurred after 12 weeks and maintained for 78 weeks indicating potential protection against rabies after receiving a single ORV bait. Conclusion: Our results suggested that a single dose of vaccination with V-RG®, though initially designed for foxes and raccoons, can protect the gray wolf against rabies as well.
