SUBMISSION OF ANIMALS FOR RABIES TESTING
When the decision is made either to euthanize an animal or submit a dead
animal for rabies examination, several procedures must be followed to obtain
quick and accurate results. Many times rabies prophylaxis of an individual is
dependent on these results. Contact Los Angeles County Veterinary Public
Health (323-730-3723) for information on appropriate sample handling and to
arrange for specimen pick-up. The rabies specimens will be transported to the
Public Health Laboratory.
Animals that bite humans
Wild carnivores & bats
In California, wildlife account for close to 99% of the rabid animals. Any wild
carnivore that bites a person should be immediately tested for rabies. The four
most common terrestrial reservoir species harboring rabies in the U.S. are:
raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes. In addition to these terrestrial, indigenous
rabid bats have been found in every state except Hawaii.
Healthy cats and dogs
A healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed
for 10 days. Such animals should be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first sign
of illness during confinement. If signs suggestive of rabies develop, the animal
should be euthanized, its head removed, and the head shipped under
refrigeration (not frozen) for examination of the brain by the Public Health
Laboratory.
Collection and submission of animal specimens for rabies testing
This information is supplied to facilitate the handling and to provide the most
accurate and rapid diagnosis of specimens submitted for rabies testing. The
Public Health Laboratory accepts specimens for rabies testing from private
veterinarians or animal shelters who adhere to the following guidelines.
A. Listed below are animals that will be tested for rabies.
1. Domestic mammals that bite/expose humans (except fully-vaccinated dogs,
cats, and caged animals raised indoors).
2. All wild carnivores that bite humans. Signs of rabies in wildlife cannot be
interpreted reliably.
3. All bats should be tested regardless of human exposure. The bite of a bat is so
minuscule that often the individual is not aware of it. Also, because rabies is
endemic in bats, we test them for surveillance purposes to determine the
prevalence of bat rabies.
4. Ill animals with signs of rabies.
B. Listed below are animals that will NOT be accepted for rabies testing:
1. Cage raised pets will NOT be tested. These include all gerbils, guinea pigs,
and hamsters.
2. Rodents and rabbits will NOT be tested, except when a Veterinary Public
Health Veterinarian deems that extraordinary circumstances exist which indicate
rabies infection is likely.
3. Baby bats submitted with the mother will NOT be tested regardless of
exposure history. Only the mother will be tested if an exposure has occurred.
4. No live animals will be accepted for testing.
Guidelines to Ensure Proper Rabies Testing of Specimens
1. Avoid damage to the brain by shooting or other traumatizing procedures.
2. Have a qualified person separate the suspect animal's head from the body
immediately after death. Submit only the head of the animal.
3. If only the brain is submitted rather than the entire head, be sure to include
parts of the cerebellum, hippocampus, and brain stem. Specimens that do not
include at least two of these three areas of the brain will be considered
unsatisfactory due to a lack of sufficient material. DO NOT FORMALIN FIX
BRAIN TISSUE.
4. Pour chloroform over the specimen or use flea spay in sufficient quantity to kill
any fleas which may be present. Wrap the specimen in several layers of
newspaper. Place wrapped specimen in a plastic bag, seal the bag and attach
completed lab transmittal form to the outside of the plastic bag. Place this entire
package inside a second plastic bag to protect the lab slip. Seal the bag.
5. Keep the head refrigerated until time to deliver to the laboratory. Do not freeze.
6. Brains submitted from larger animals such as livestock nominally should
include labeled portions from the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum and
brain stem from both sides of the brain.
7. Bats should be submitted whole.
Routine and emergency laboratory processing of rabies specimens
The processing of rabies specimens is performed daily. Results are telephoned
or faxed to the submitter. Positive results are also telephoned to Acute
Communicable Disease Control (ACD) and Veterinary Public Health.
Routine Processing:
Processing is initiated on all specimens submitted to the laboratory by 1:00 p.m.
of that day, smears are made and fixed overnight for direct immunofluorescent
antibody (IFA) staining the following morning. Results are ready before noon of
the day following submission.
Emergency Processing:
Specimens deemed to be of an emergent nature are processed including
staining on the same day of submission. These results are ready within six hours
of specimen receipt in the laboratory. Special arrangements must be made for
emergency testing by contacting Veterinary Public Health (323-730-3723) before
the laboratory can proceed with testing. All IFA results done by six hour fixation
are considered to be preliminary, therefore retesting of brain material will be
performed on the next regular laboratory work day, using slides that had at least
an overnight fixation.
Questions on Laboratory Testing for Rabies
What animals will be tested by the Public Health Laboratory (PHL)?
In general, the following animals will be tested.
1. Mammals that bite/expose humans (except fully-vaccinated dogs, cats, ferrets,
and caged animals raised indoors).
2. Ill animals with signs of rabies.
3. All bats.
What test is performed for rabies at the Public Health Laboratory (PHL)?
The test of choice for detecting rabies in animals is the direct immunofluorescent
antibody (IFA) test. A slide containing fresh brain tissue is reacted with
fluorescein labeled anti-rabies virus antibody. When viewed under a fluorescence
microscope, rabies virus antigen will fluoresce. Any animal excreting virus in its
saliva should have detectable virus in its brain.
What types of specimens are required for IFA testing?
Rabies IFA testing requires fresh, unfixed brain tissue.
What does PHL accept for testing?
No living animal will be accepted for rabies testing. For testing of bats, the entire
animal should be sent to the PHL. For other species, just the animal's head and
upper neck should be submitted.
Euthanizing a bat that needs to be tested: Captured bats should be
euthanized before being shipped to the PHL. Many local veterinarians or animal
shelters can safely and humanely euthanize bats.
Who should remove the head for testing?
Because the brain, spinal cord, salivary glands, and saliva may contain rabies
virus, only veterinarians, animal control officers, or others who have been
appropriately trained (and adequately vaccinated) should remove animal heads.
This work should be done in a properly ventilated area using adequate protective
gear.
How should specimens be shipped to the PHL?
Wrap the specimen in several layers of newspaper. Place wrapped specimen in
a plastic bag, seal the bag and attach completed lab transmittal form to the
outside of the plastic bag. Place this entire package inside a second plastic bag
to protect the lab slip. Seal the bag. Keep the head refrigerated until time to
deliver to the laboratory.
What are the possible outcomes of the testing?
Rabies IFA testing at the PHL can result in the following outcomes:
Positive: A "positive" specimen is one in which rabies virus antigens have been
detected. Any animal with a confirmed positive rabies IFA test is considered
capable of transmitting rabies. The IFA test is highly specific for rabies (other
diseases do not cause a positive test).
Negative: A "negative" specimen is one in which adequate brain tissue was
examined yet no rabies antigens were detected. A negative IFA test performed
with an adequate specimen reliably rules out the possibility that the animal tested
was capable of transmitting rabies.
Unsatisfactory: An "unsatisfactory" test is one in which the specimen submitted
was inadequate for testing.
In addition, non-specific or indeterminant fluorescence patterns are found rarely.
In such instances, additional studies will be performed.
What is the turnaround time for test results?
Processing is initiated on all specimens submitted to the laboratory by 1:00 p.m.
of that day, smears are made and fixed overnight for IFA staining the following
morning. Results are ready before noon of the day following submission.
How are the test results disseminated?
Results are telephoned or faxed to the submitter. Positive results are also
telephoned to Acute Communicable Disease Control (ACD) and Veterinary
Public Health.