Media University of Babylon | cientific Seminar at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, on the Rabies Virus

Media University of Babylon - Faculty of Medicine

cientific Seminar at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, on the Rabies Virus

By : Zaynab Kadhim Ameen Awadh

Date : 01/12/2025 27:02:12 PM

cientific Seminar at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, on the Rabies Virus
As part of the activities of the Continuing Education Unit at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, the Department of Microbiology organized a scientific seminar titled “Rabies Virus”, one of the viruses of significant medical and veterinary importance. It belongs to the genus Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. The seminar was presented by Professor Dr. Zaitoon Abdul-Ridha Khayoush and Assistant Lecturer Dr. Mohammed Mohsen Mohammed, in the presence of the Dean of the College, Professor Dr. Muhannad Abbass Al-Shalah, the Scientific Assistant, Assistant Professor Dr. Ashraf Mohammed Ali, and the Director of the Continuing Education Unit, Professor Dr. Ilham Abbas Banyan, along with a group of faculty members and staff of the college.
The lecture discussed the sources of infection, primarily infected dogs, cats, and wild animals. The virus is transmitted to humans mainly through bites or contamination of wounds with the saliva of infected animals. The mechanism of viral spread within the body was also explained: it begins with replication in muscle cells at the site of the bite, then travels through sensory and motor nerve endings using the dynein protein via retrograde axonal transport, eventually reaching the central nervous system, where it causes fatal encephalitis if not treated early.
The presentation also addressed the pathogenesis, which involves damage to neuronal and muscular cells and disruption of their functions through interference with neurotransmission, producing characteristic cellular changes such as Negri bodies.
In conclusion, the speakers emphasized the importance of prevention and protection through pre-exposure vaccination for humans and animals, and the immediate administration of rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin after exposure to minimize the risk of infection