(Pseudo Rabies, Mad Itch, Infectious Bulbar Paralysis) Acute viral infection mainly of pigs, but can be seen in other species also. It is a contagious disease in swine but infectious in others (cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, minks, ferret, foxes and rats). Disease was first recorded by Aujesky in 1902 in ox. Hanson named it as Mad Itch (1954). The terminology ‘Infectious Bulbar Paralysis’ is mainly used in rabbits. In man mild illness occurs. It is caused by herpes virus. It is susceptible to disinfectants, formalin, heat, UV radiation. It can survive for 2-7 weeks in infected premises and up to 5 weeks in meat. It can grow in CAM of embryonated eggs and produce pock after 3-4 days of infection. It can produce Cowdry type A inclusion bodies in infected cells. Transmission: Principal reservoir of virus is pigs. Cattle are considered as dead end host and so far no inter bovine transmission is recorded. Virus enters via break in skin caused by bite or other wounds and occasionally by aerosol method. Shedding of virus through saliva is also proved. Virus enters the CNS by peripheral nerves causing neuronal damage resulting in local pruritis and encephalomyelitis. Virus can be isolated from nasopharynx, lungs and vagina of affected cattle. Improperly cooked meat, garbage, left over of slaughtered pigs cause infection in dogs. Clinical signs: Following a period of incubation (4-7 days), there will be rise in temperature, itching at the entry point of virus, pruritis in nose, eyes, ears, lower jaw, chest, udder, limbs, flank and anal region. Profuse salivation, sweating, chewing movements, excitement, bellowing and aggressiveness are also noted. Piglets are more susceptible. Nystagmus, convulsion, snoring respiration, vomition and diarrhoea, incoordination, abortion and mummified foetus are other symptoms. In cattle, severe itching is the main symptom and itching is confined to anterior or posterior part of the body. SC tissue become gelatinous if pruritis is intense, thickening around nostrils, eyelids or cervical regional, inflicting self injuries, frequent lying down and getting up and circling movements are the important symptoms. If posterior part is affected, then skin at perineal region, flank, and udder is thickened and exudative type of thickening is noted. In dogs and cats, intense pruritis is not evident, but aggressiveness, attacking, inflicting self injuries, oedematous reaction in body, salivation, paralysis and death. Some animals recover from infection and act as source for others. Diagnosis: From symptoms. Animal inoculation studies using rabbits. Inoculate the material (brain, lungs, tonsil and kidney) SC to rabbits produces intense itching and death in 3-5 days. Other tests are VNT, FAT. Differential diagnosis should be made from Rabies (by Negri body examination and by animal inoculation studies), Hypomagnesaemia (by checking response to Mg therapy), Listeriosis (a bacterial disease). Treatment: No specific. Hyper immune serum @ 5mL SC can be tried in piglets. Control: Isolation of the affected and culling, feeding of uncooked garbage should be avoided. No commercial vaccine is available.
