Within Europe these restrictions on movement are being gradually removed. Dogs which originate from licensed premises in Europe and which have been vaccinated with rabies vaccine, and identified by a microchip implant, are now being allowed to pass into the UK without the need for a period in quarantine. In most countries Rabies is a notifiable disease and suspect animals must be kept in isolation and barrier nursed. Nucleoprotein gene studies suggest that the disease probably spread from Europe to America, Asia and Africa. In Europe foxes are the main reservoir.
Rabies has a world-wide distribution except for the UK and Australia.
Signs Members of the Canidae family are some of the most susceptible species to infection ie coyotes, jackals and wolves. Other highly susceptible species include foxes, rodents, skunks, racoons, bats, rabbits, and cattle. Indeed one of the last cases reported in the UK occurred after an imported dog had been released from it's mandatory 6 month quarantine period. The delay in some individuals is because the rabies virus has to migrate from the site of initial entry into the body to the spinal cord or brain along peripheral nerves. Dilated pupils and slow eye reflexes.