Rabies in a litter of skunks predicted and diagnosed by skin biopsy.

Four juvenile skunks were vaccinated against rabies, descented, and then placed in 4 different households. An illness subsequently developed in 3 of the skunks that was confirmed as rabies, by examination of biopsy specimens of muzzle skin using immunofluorescence microscopy. In 1 clinically normal skunk, the skin was found to be test-positive, predicting that rabies would develop; the signs of rabies became evident in 48 hours. the infection was considered to be field acquired rather than vaccine induced.