History of Rabies Diagnosis

 Diagnosis of rabies is based on clinical diagnosis or by detection of viral or infection-related lesions.

 This page introduces the evolution of clinical diagnosis and the techniques used for diagnosis in Japan up to the present.

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“Explanation of Rabies”

The Japanese Army

Published 8/1879

Diagnosis was made mainly based on clinical symptoms alone.

Suspected rabid dogs were kept for 3 months and were diagnosed by observation.

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1887

Pasteur Institute discovered a method of rabies diagnosis by subdural inoculation.

The Pasteur Institute reported a technique for diagnosing rabies by inoculating rabbits and guinea pigs with the brain of a rabies-causing dog.

1903

Adelchi Negri discovered Negri bodies

Adelchi Negri discovered that the characteristic inclusion bodies were formed in the cytoplasm of neurons of animals infected with rabies.

”Theory of Rabies”

Jihei Tanakamaru
Published 4/1917

With the development of post-exposure vaccines, more rapid diagnosis was required than ever before.

In addition to clinical diagnosis, animal study and detection of Negri bodies came to be used for postmortem diagnosis.

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“Diagnostics of Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases”

Published 3/1941

Animal study methods and serodiagnosis studies were conducted.

The techniques used for diagnosis were not considered to have changed significantly from 1917.

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“Sanitary Inspection Guidelines”

Ministry of Health and Welfare

Published 10/1950

National guidelines were issued to eradicate rabies. Serum-based diagnosis was newly introduced.

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1953

Kiyoshi Ando et al. announced the diagnosis of rabies by complement binding reaction.

The serum-based diagnosis method, used for diagnosis since the postwar period, was announced.

1957

Eradication of rabies in Japan