[Rabies in a veterinarian].

A 57-year-old veterinary surgeon developed rabies 174 days after injury during an oral palpation of a rabid cow. He had been vaccinated prophylactically with Duck embryo vaccine several months before exposure but never had his serum antibody level controlled. He died 45 days later. The prodromal and encephalitic stage lasted 5 days each. Intensive supportive medical treatment was given from the beginning of the paralytic stage. The clinical course was complicated by progredient respiratory failure, diabetes insipidus, severe hypotension, and increase of intracranial pressure. The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed by rising antibody titers prior to the patient's death.