Preface

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that is fatal once clinical manifestations develop. Its agent, the rabies virus (RABV), is a (-)ssRNA virus belonging to the order *Mononegavirales*, the family *Rhabdoviridae* (from the Latin word "rhabdos", meaning "rod," because representatives of this family have rod-shaped virions), and the genus *Lyssavirus* (from the name "Lyssa," an ancient Greek goddess, the personification of rabies).

Despite significant progress in fighting rabies worldwide and successful eradication programs in Western Europe, rabies remains an important public health concern, causing approximately 50,000 human cases per year. Rabies is present on every continent except Antarctica and Australia, with 95% of human deaths occurring in Asia and Africa. In almost 99% of cases, the transmission of RABV to humans occurs from domestic dogs. However, rabies can affect both domestic and wild animals and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches, usually through saliva.

This book summarizes current knowledge regarding RABV, its prevalence and genetic diversity, and modern approaches to its diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. It is a useful resource for scientists, doctors, and students studying the problem of rabies, conducting research, carrying out preventive measures, and providing medical care to patients.

> **Dr. Sergey Tkachev** Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology of Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia

> > Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

Section 1
