Rage. Samples for diagnosis of rabies in animals teethers - Recommendations

Brain samples Animal Teether

Samples are to be received by veterinarians brains extracted from biting animals, animal heads separated by veterinarians, or in the case of small animals (mouse, rat, hamster, bats or the like) the whole animal.

To remove the brain is recommended to proceed as follows:

Small animals (mouse, bat, rat, hamster, and similar in size)

• Open with scissors the skin covering the skull, making a longitudinal and horizontal section perpendicular to the front to the back.

• Peel off the skin to expose the skull.

• Effecting a cross section on the back of the head from side to side and then from the ends of this cut, start walking forward until the front as possible.

• Lift the skullcap and will expose the brain.

• Remove the brain with forceps and place in a petri dish.

Large animals (cat, dog, and similar or larger in size)

• Open with a scalpel (usually cut better than scissors) or scissors the skin covering the skull, making a longitudinal and horizontal section perpendicular to the front to the back.

• Peel off the skin to expose the skull. It is usually necessary to cut the implantation of the ear.

• Using a hammer and chisel, effecting a cross section on the back of the head from side to side and then from the ends of this cut, start walking forward until the most forward as possible (for this procedure is necessary the head is placed on a laboratory table to avoid damaging the lab bench, and is held by another person so that it does not move).

• Lift the skullcap and will expose the brain.

• Remove the brain with forceps (or hands, equipped with gloves) and place in a Petri dish (large). To remove be necessary to cut the binding brainstem.

Once extracted, it is introduced into water with 50% glycerol (1: 1; half water and half of glycerin, preferably sterile).

Samples of living patients with clinical suspicion of rabies:

• Samples of brain biopsies

These samples will be taken by neurosurgeon and sent inside a microtube sterile polypropylene without adding anything.

• Coneales samples imprints

They must be obtained by ophthalmologists patients with clinical suspicion of rabies, to be taken firmly by contacting a clean and sterile slide against the cornea. Two stamps must be obtained. It slides will be introduced in a special container slide to avoid breakage during transport.

Sample transport and conservation

It is convenient to transport refrigerated samples introduced into a sterile polypropylene container. Refrigerated transport to use an expanded polystyrene container and a freezer pack frozen.