A virus in the genus Lyssavirus (family Rhabdoviridae) that causes rabies and is transmitted through contact with the blood or saliva of an infected animal. Rabies is an acute, normally fatal encephalitis that can infect most mammals but is found particularly in domestic dogs, cats, skunks, raccoons and bats (though bats' reputations for spreading rabies has been highly exaggerated). Rabies is characterized by burning sensations in the skin, agitation, delirium, hallucinations, excessive salivation, fear of/aversion to drinking fluids, convulsions, paralysis, and coma.