Hyena?

[sgt_zim]

You are correct, but your point is moot. Kudu, Eland, Hyena, Genet can all carry rabies. Let's say you fire the shot without seeing any behaviour to indicate that an animal has rabies. Get infected without knowing. Three to 12 weeks later you start showing symptoms. Tickets.
Just get the shot.

Fair point. The treatment post-exposure is the same treatment pre-exposure - a 4 injection vaccination spread out over a couple weeks.

 

[Dewald]

Folks, I’m intrigued by this as an option. I’m doing a first plains game hunt to KZN in 2025.

As a side note when thinking about it, rabies vaccines worthwhile for over there? Suppose getting bitten by a dog or anything is possible..

I’m sure you will enjoy KZN @wildfowler.250

I am fortunate to have hunted a few hyena in KZN that were causing damage to cattle and wildlife. They are fun to hunt and can be quite challenging. Spotted hyena can be baited successfully, but it is quite challenging. The other method is to call them in which can sometimes result in the whole pack charging in immediately, or it can take quite a bit of skill to call in a lone hyena.

As to your question about rabies vaccination, I agree with Marius @KMG, rather be safe than sorry. The eastern part of Southern Africa is riddled with rabies, from the Eastern Cape, KZN, Mpumalanga, Mozambique and so on.

To be vaccinated you receive 4 shots, on Days 0,3,7&14 respectively. This is indeed also protocol when exposed, except you then also receive the rabies immunoglobulin in the wound site.

I have treated multiple patients in Northern KZN who have been exposed to rabies, the one eight years ago having been bitten at night whilst sleeping in his tent by a spotted hyena, that turned out to have had rabies. I have seen one patient in my career pass away because of rabies and know of another, both are from northern KZN. It is a horrible way to go, I can assure you. I have multiple patients at my practice, amongst others farmers, PHs, wildlife photographers, game rangers and staff on game lodges that all stay up to date with their rabies vaccination. Also take into account that the Government veterinary services have fallen apart, and most rural dogs are not vaccinated, and can potentially carry the disease onto any property, in addition to all the wildlife vectors like vervet monkeys, blackback and sidestripe jackal, mongoose, and others.

 

[375Fox]

I hear you Zach, but it there's no turning back once its too late. To answer your question, yes, I am up to date on rabies.
This coming from someone who don't always take Malaria treatment when going into areas where Malaria is found. I like how you phrased your question, because I do exactly the same. If the locals don't take it, then I follow them.

I’ll give it some more consideration. I have had several PHs bitten by village dogs and I didn’t consider something like a kudu in Namibia not yet showing rabies symptoms.

 

[Nyati]

Shot my brown in daytime, as it was trying to get into the enclosure where my outfitter keeps his boer sheep.

Skull is one of my favorite trophies

 

[wvfred]

I really like to hunt hyena and they are one of the few animals that I would shoot more than one of.They are also larger than most people think.The skulls in the pic are of a grizzly and a hyena.

 

[Fatback]

I tried to get one in Zim this year. We baited and had some close calls but I wasn’t able to get one. We couldn’t hunt at night or with an electronic call since we were in a designated safari area. I’ll certainly try for one on a future safari. Just needed one of these hang around a bit longer.

 

[Justbryan]

Very fun hunt in Kruger SA area.

 

[V.Veritas]

Fair point. The treatment post-exposure is the same treatment pre-exposure - a 4 injection vaccination spread out over a couple weeks.

I wish someone could explain to me how a vaccine can also be used as a treatment?

If we return back to basics, a vaccine is suppose to stimulate the immunity system for an immune response (by inserting an attenuated virus or virus fragments).

Why would you need to stimulate the immune response with a vaccine after you have been infected? Why isn’t the infection itself with the real virus be triggering the immune response?

With all due respect to everyone, I’m not interested in a polemic on this subject and would appreciate a well informed response if available.

 

[sgt_zim]

The vaccine (which is also the treatment post-exposure) stimulates production of antibodies - it'll make the body more easily recognize the virus within the body once it becomes active. Stimulation of the immune system, if done before the actual virus gets active, will protect from the virus once it does get active. The immune system is completely activated against rabies virus within a day or 3 after the 4th/5th injection, which have hopefully been given before the virus gets active if you've been exposed.

The virus generally doesn't become active until somewhere between 30 and 90 days post-exposure (somewhat depends on the introduction location of the virus in proximity to your brain - feet and lower legs are farther from brain than hands/arms/trunk/neck). If you complete the treatment regimen (the vaccine) prior to that time, it's supposed to work as if you were vaccinated before ever having been exposed.

 

[Osama Mahdi]

I wish someone could explain to me how a vaccine can also be used as a treatment?

If we return back to basics, a vaccine is suppose to stimulate the immunity system for an immune response (by inserting an attenuated virus or virus fragments).

Why would you need to stimulate the immune response with a vaccine after you have been infected? Why isn’t the infection itself with the real virus be triggering the immune response?

With all due respect to everyone, I’m not interested in a polemic on this subject and would appreciate a well informed response if available.

Normally the immune system needs on average 14 days to produce a protective cells and antibodies to overcome the infection. Some pathogens will kill the human in hours ( plague) or days. So with the vaccine your body is ready. Imagine an enemy willing to kill you and there are tow scenarios. One you are holding you gun ready and see your enemy approaching. The second scenario, your are a sleep and not ready.
Also, some viruses cause severe damage during their infection such as polio which cause nerve damage and permanent paralysis. The later immune response will be after the damage.
Rabies is special case, the virus travel via nerves not through the blood and despite it may take weeks to reach to the brain and kills you, the immune system can not " see it" so vaccination is the only way to save your life.
I used to teach immunology long time ago.
Kind regards!

 

[TN_Farmer]

I just wrote on post on rabies (vaccines, prevention, and treatment) in another thread... hopefully, it'll give a little more clarity:

Thread 'Rabies... Vaccines & Post-Exposure Treatment'

Today at 1:11 AM

I read some posts about rabies here on AH, and there was some less than accurate information being shared. So I thought I would clarify the current prevention and treatment of rabies here.

Here are my street creds: I dabble in a lot of things, but primarily I am an emergency medicine physician with a fellowship in wilderness medicine. I am a prior military physician who has lived and travelled overseas around the world. I deal with rabies prevention and post-exposure treatment on a regular basis.

There are three aspects of rabies in humans we need to consider:

1. Active Rabies
2...

• TN_Farmer
• rabies
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Articles

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[Hunter-Habib]

Taken a few over the years. Both during the day and at night. Quite thrilling.