How does rabies manifest in mice? - briefly
Infected mice display rapid neurological deterioration, including agitation, loss of coordination, paralysis, excessive salivation, and a drooping posture. Death usually follows within several days of symptom onset.
How does rabies manifest in mice? - in detail
Rabies infection in laboratory mice progresses through a defined sequence of events after intracerebral or peripheral inoculation. The incubation period varies with viral dose and route, typically ranging from 7 to 14 days, during which no outward signs appear.
The prodromal stage is brief, marked by subtle changes such as reduced grooming and mild lethargy. These early alterations are often indistinguishable from normal variability and require careful observation.
Clinical manifestation becomes evident in the encephalitic phase. Observable signs include:
- Hyperactivity or agitation alternating with periods of apparent paralysis
- Erratic locomotion, including circling or running in circles
- Tremors and myoclonic jerks affecting forelimbs and hindlimbs
- Excessive salivation, sometimes accompanied by foaming at the mouth
- Dysphagia and difficulty swallowing, leading to food refusal
- Respiratory distress, characterized by irregular breathing patterns
- Pupillary dilation and loss of the corneal reflex
Autonomic dysfunction may accompany these neurological signs, presenting as temperature dysregulation and cardiac arrhythmias. The disease culminates in coma and death, usually within 48 hours of overt symptom onset.
Post‑mortem examination reveals characteristic viral antigen deposition in the hippocampus, brainstem, and spinal cord, detectable by immunohistochemistry. Negri bodies—eosinophilic inclusions in neuronal cytoplasm—provide additional confirmation.
Laboratory assessment of infected mice should therefore combine behavioral monitoring, physiological measurements, and targeted neuropathological analysis to capture the full spectrum of rabies pathology.