Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals and can be transmitted to humans through animal bites. While many animals are susceptible to rabies, there are a few exceptions.
In this blog post, we’ll explore which animals are immune to the rabies virus and why. Understanding which animals cannot get rabies can help you make informed decisions about interacting with animals and protect yourself and your pets from potential exposure to the disease.
What Animals Cannot Get Rabies?
Rabies affects only mammals because only mammals have the specific receptors necessary for the rabies virus to thrive. For this reason, reptiles, birds, and fish are immune to the rabies virus.
While most mammals can contract and transmit the rabies virus, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Here are some animals that are immune to rabies:
Opossums: Opossums have a lower body temperature than other mammals, which makes it difficult for the virus to survive in their bodies.
Kangaroos: Kangaroos have a unique immune system that can fight off the rabies virus.
Platypuses: Platypuses have a different body temperature and unique immune system that makes them resistant to the rabies virus.
Rodents: Rodents are rarely infected with rabies and are considered a low-risk species for transmitting the disease to humans.
It’s important to note that while these animals are considered immune to rabies, they can still transmit other diseases to humans and pets.
Additionally, it’s crucial to avoid contact with wild animals, as they are the most common carriers of the rabies virus.
What Pets Are Immune to Rabies?
There are no known domestic pets that are immune to the rabies virus. All warm-blooded mammals, including dogs, cats, and ferrets, can contract and transmit the rabies virus if they are not properly vaccinated.
However, pets can be protected against rabies through regular vaccinations. In many countries, including the United States, rabies vaccinations are required by law for dogs and cats.
Vaccinating your pets not only helps to protect them from rabies but also helps to prevent the spread of the disease to humans and other animals.
Why Does Rabies Affect Only Mammals?
Rabies is caused by a virus that belongs to the Lyssavirus genus, which affects only mammals. The reason for this is that the virus needs specific receptors that are present only in mammalian nerve cells to attach and invade the host’s body.
When the virus enters the body of a mammal, it travels through the nervous system and attacks the brain, causing inflammation and a variety of symptoms. Once the virus reaches the brain, it replicates rapidly and then spreads to other parts of the body through the nervous system.
Since only mammals have the specific receptors necessary for the rabies virus to invade, other animals like reptiles, birds, and fish cannot get infected with the virus.
How Did The First Animal Get Rabies?
The exact origin of rabies in animals is not well understood, but it is believed to have originated in bats, which are natural reservoirs for the virus.
It’s thought that the virus was transmitted to other animals, including domestic dogs, through bites from infected bats. From there, the virus spread to other animal species, including humans.
Rabies has been present for thousands of years and has been documented in historical records, including ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that depict symptoms of rabies in dogs.
While the exact origin of rabies is unknown, it is believed to have emerged naturally through the process of evolution and natural selection.
The virus likely evolved to infect specific mammalian species, including dogs and humans, as a result of close contact between animals and the spread of the virus through bites and other forms of contact.
Today, rabies is a significant public health concern, and efforts are underway to prevent the spread of the virus through vaccination programs and public education campaigns.
Why Is There No Cure for Rabies?
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. Once symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for rabies once it has developed.
The reason for this is that the rabies virus has a unique ability to evade the immune system and enter the nervous system, where it can cause severe damage to the brain and other organs.
By the time symptoms appear, the virus has already spread throughout the body, making it difficult to target with medications or other treatments.
However, there are vaccines that can effectively prevent rabies from developing in humans and animals. These vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that can neutralize the virus before it has a chance to cause disease.
Additionally, post-exposure prophylaxis, a treatment that involves a series of injections given after a person has been exposed to the virus, can prevent rabies from developing if administered promptly.
In summary, while there is currently no cure for rabies once it has developed, prevention through vaccination and prompt treatment following exposure can be highly effective at preventing the disease from occurring.
