Human rabies: epidemiological and laboratory studies in 80 cases.

Epidemiological and laboratory studies were conducted on 80 clinically diagnosed human rabies cases. Incidence of rabies was more in adult males (55%) and boys (37.5%) than adult females (5%) and girls (2.5%) and more in rural areas (76.2%) than urban areas (23.8%). Dogs constituted the main vector of transmission (92.5%). Incomplete course of antirabic vaccine had been received by 31% of cases and 2.5% of cases had complete course of antirabic vaccine. Among the laboratory tests conducted 3.8% of corneal smears and 2.5% of saliva smears were positive by fluorescent antibody technique. Rabies virus was isolated from 3.8% of saliva and 3% of cerebrospinal fluid samples. Rabies neutralising antibody titre ranged from 1:64 to 1:128 in the serum of patients who were fully vaccinated.