An adult Hereford cow was found dead in pasture and tested positive for rabies virus.

The cow had lost weight over the past week and had foam coming from the mouth when it was found dead. No neurologic signs were reported, but the nature of the death alarmed both the producer and the veterinarian that rabies could be a differential.

A necropsy was performed at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center and a complete cross section of the cerebellum (including all three lobes) along with a complete cross-section of the brainstem were referred to the New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center in Albany, New York.

A direct fluorescent antibody (dFA) stain was positive for rabies.