How do mice transmit rabies? - briefly
Mice can spread rabies only after becoming infected, typically through bites or saliva from an infected animal; they then transmit the virus to other hosts via their own bites or contaminated saliva.
How do mice transmit rabies? - in detail
Mice become carriers of the rabies virus after being bitten by an infected animal or through direct exposure to infected saliva. Once the virus enters the peripheral nervous system, it travels retrograde along axons to the central nervous system, where replication occurs. After the incubation period, the virus reaches the salivary glands, enabling the rodent to shed infectious particles in its saliva.
Transmission to other organisms requires a bite or a scratch that introduces saliva containing the virus into the victim’s tissue. Indirect contact, such as handling a mouse with contaminated fur or mucous membranes, presents a lower risk because the virus is unstable outside a host and rapidly loses infectivity.
Key factors influencing the likelihood of spread include:
- Viral load in the saliva: Higher concentrations increase the probability of successful infection.
- Depth and location of the wound: Deep punctures near nerve-rich areas facilitate rapid viral entry.
- Health status of the mouse: Immunocompromised individuals may exhibit prolonged viral shedding.
Preventive measures focus on minimizing exposure to potentially infected rodents, employing personal protective equipment during handling, and ensuring prompt post‑exposure prophylaxis if a bite occurs. Vaccination of domestic animals and wildlife control programs reduce the reservoir of rabies, indirectly lowering the risk posed by mice.