MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Rabies virus, Rabies-related viruses

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Rabies, Hydrophobia, Lyssa

CHARACTERISTICS: Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus; ssRNA, enveloped with 10 nm spikes, 70 nm diameter and 175 nm in length

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Acute viral encephalomyelitis, invariably fatal after the onset of symptoms; onset with apprehension, behavioral changes, headache, fever, malaise and sensory changes referred to site of preceding animal bite wound; progresses to paresis or paralysis; spasm of muscles on attempts to swallow may lead to fear of water; delirium and convulsions; duration of 2 to 6 days; death due to respiratory paralysis

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; uncommon in man (primarily a disease of animals); consult local quarantine office for a list of rabies free areas

HOST RANGE: All mammals with varying susceptibility; Humans; common animals as follows: urban rabies - dogs and cats; sylvatic or rural rabies - wild carnivores and bats, with sporadic disease among dogs, cats and livestock; in USA and Canada - primarily foxes and raccoons; in Europe - foxes

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Virus-laden saliva of a rabid animal is introduced by a bite or rarely by a scratch (rarely into a fresh break in skin or through intact mucous membranes); airborne spread demonstrated in caves and in laboratory settings

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 2 to 8 weeks, occasionally as short as 10 days or up to several years; depends on the severity of the wound, site of the wound in relation to richness of nerve supply and distance from the brain, amount of virus introduced, protective clothing and other factors

COMMUNICABILITY: Transmission from person-to-person possible (saliva contains virus) but only documented via corneal transplants; dogs and cats infectious 3 to 5 days before onset of clinical disease; bats shed virus for 2 weeks before clinical symptoms

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Many wild and domestic Canidae, including dogs, foxes, coyotes and wolves; also skunks, raccoons and other biting mammals; cats as alternative host; bats; rabbits, chipmunks, rats and mice are rarely infected

ZOONOSIS: Yes, directly transmitted from rabid animals to humans

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: N/A

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde, 70% ethanol, formaldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated on exposure to ultraviolet radiation, by heat (1 hour at 50° C), and by lipid solvents

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Inactivated rapidly in sunlight and does not survive for long periods out of host unless protected in a cool dark area

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitoring for symptoms is inadequate since, at this point, rabies is invariably fatal. Each suspected case must be evaluated individually; examination of infected animal if possible; confirm serologically

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Immediate thorough cleansing and flushing with soap and water of all wounds followed by application of either 70% alcohol, tincture or aqueous solutions of iodine; suturing of wound should be avoided; administer postexposure prophylaxis

IMMUNIZATION: Preexposure immunization of individuals at high risk (including laboratory workers, veterinarians and other animal handlers) with Human Diploid Cell Vaccine (HDCV)

PROPHYLAXIS: Administration of rabies immune globulin (RIG), up to half infiltrated directly into the wound, to neutralize virus in wound and vaccination with HDCV as soon as possible after exposure to develop active immunity; individuals who have been immunized should not receive RIG

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Two documented laboratory infections from presumed exposure to high-titred infectious aerosols generated in a vaccine production facility and a research facility

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: All tissues of infected animals with highest titres in CNS, salivary glands and saliva

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation, cuts or sticks with contaminated laboratory equipment, bites by infected animals and exposure of mucous membranes or broken skin to infectious droplets of tissue or fluid, aerosols

SPECIAL HAZARDS: Naturally or experimentally infected animals, their tissues, and their excretions are a potential source of exposure to laboratory and animal care personnel

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 (fixed or attenuated virus) and Biosafety level 3 (street or wild type virus) practices, containment equipment and facilities are recommended for rabies virus for all activities utilizing known or potentially infectious materials (with vaccination); additional containment and precautions may be indicated for activities with high potential for droplet or aerosol production and for activities involving production quantities or concentrations of infectious materials

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves, gown with ties in back and tight wrists when working with infected materials

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Heavy protective gloves to avoid cuts from instruments or bone fragments; face shield to protect from infectious droplets or tissue fragments; HEPA filter mask may be indicated in some situations

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time before clean up (30 min)

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; chemical disinfection, steam sterilization, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: January, 2001

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001

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