Correlation of Symptoms with Intravitam Confirmed Rabid Cases by Molecular Approaches

Abstract: For the productive application of molecular approaches for detection of rabies in live animals in the field conditions, the detection of rabies by TaqMan real time PCR and Nested RT-PCR was correlated with the observation of clinical symptoms in the suspected animals. TaqMan real time PCR and Nested RT-PCR applied on skin samples of 20 animals have confirmed rabies viral RNA in 11 and 9 cases, respectively. Out of 11 TaqMan confirmed rabies positive cases early phase symptoms off feed, fever and behavioural change was exhibited by 8, 6 and 3 animals, respectively with a sensitivity of 84.61%, 68.75 % and 57.89%. Out of 9 Nested RT-PCR confirmed cases off feed, fever and behavioural changes was present in 8, 5 and 2 cases, respectively with a sensitivity of 90%, 69.23 % and 56.25%. Mid phase symptoms micturition and bellowing was present in 2 and 5 out of 11 TaqMan and 9 Nested confirmed cases. Late phase symptoms like difficulty in standing walking and difficulty intake, Salivation and paralysis was observed in 3, 3, 8 and 1 out of 11 TaqMan confirmed cases with a sensitivity of 57.89 % 57.89%, 78.57 % and 52.38 % respectively and 3, 3, 6, 1 out of 9 Nested PCR confirmed cases with a sensitivity of 60%,60%, 52.94 % and 75%