Rabies case confirmed in domestic pet in Alberta

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

A nine-year-old domestic indoor-outdoor cat on a farm near Longview, Alta. tested positive for rabies on Nov. 13.
Prior to testing, the cat displayed extreme aggression before biting the owner and the owner’s son, who sought medical attention and had the cat tested for the rabies virus.
Since the incident, all other animals on the farm, including four other cats and two dogs, have been quarantined for a three-month period for observation, and a post-exposure rabies vaccination was given to the animals in case of virus cross-transmission.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency completed variant typing that is most consistent with the bat variant of the virus. The cat is thought to have hunted and caught a rabies-positive bat before contracting the virus itself.
“The virus attacks the nervous system, travelling up peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and brain. The result is permanent disruption or derangement in how the brain operates, which often manifests as sudden behavioural changes or unexplained progressive paralysis,” said Becky Bezugley, a veterinarian with the Animal Care Centre of Strathmore. “As a result, rabies can be a fatal disease in both humans and animals.”
In Alberta, the majority of rabies cases are found in bats. In 2016, seven cases of rabies-positive bats were confirmed; in 2017 the number was at 10 and so far in 2018, nine bats have been confirmed with the virus.
The Office of Alberta’s Chief Provincial Veterinarian confirmed to local veterinarian Karen Sevick on Nov. 21 that although it seems in recent years there are increased incidents of rabies, that it not the case. Rather, the number of bat submissions, including submissions for rabies-positive bats, has increased.
“There’s an increased incident in submitting the bats in Alberta, which is great because people are more aware that yes, we can see rabies in bats, but the numbers have been pretty consistent,” said Sevick. “People are more vigilant about getting the bats and turning them in.”
Local veterinarians say the best way to protect yourselves and pets from the rabies virus is keeping up to date with rabies vaccines. Vaccination options include either a one-year or three-year longevity vaccination. For people working in animal-related industries, it is suggested to also stay up to date on a human rabies vaccine. Veterinarians also suggest being vigilant about turning in found dead bats for testing, and for monitoring your animals for changing and aggressive behaviours if they do not have current rabies vaccinations.
“It’s such an easy disease to prevent,” said Sevick. “To me, it’s extremely important to prevent the disease rather than deal with post-exposure.”
Local veterinarians also cautioned those who find dead bats not to touch them with their bare skin. If you find a dead bat, use gloves to pick it up and put it in either a sealable Ziploc bag or into a closed container, avoiding physical contact with the bat. Contact your local veterinarian so they can handle getting it to the government for testing. There is no charge for submitting a dead bat for rabies testing. Alternatively, if you need to remove a live bat from your home, use thick leather gloves and a cardboard box to trap the bat and make sure never to come in contact with it with your bare skin.
“Rabies has been present in Alberta for many years; we simply become re-aware of the disease when a new case is reported,” said Bezugley. “The people of Strathmore should always be diligent about protecting themselves and their pets against rabies.”