Rabies in bovine: First case report of rabies in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Libya

BACKGROUND: Rabies is still one of the most neglected diseases in developing countries. It is endemic to North Africa, although rabies incidence in North Africa is certainly underestimated. CASE DESCRIPTION: On 18 December 2018 in the region of Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, an 8-month-old calf died after a period of characteristic clinical symptoms of rabies. This is the first case of rabies in bovine which is confirmed through histopathological examination in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Omar Al-Mukhtar University. Microscopic examination clearly revealed encephalitis with the pathognomonic Negri bodies in the cerebellar neurons. CONCLUSION: Since the characteristic lesions in the histopathological examination are sufficient to confirm the diagnosis and report infected cases, we recommend that the next version of the OIE Terrestrial Manual should add and clarify that the results of the use of histopathological techniques in the diagnosis of rabies are significant.