Rabies virus, illustration. Rabies virus is a member of the Rhabdoviridae family. This bullet-shaped enveloped virus has a protein coat (capsid), which is made up of helically arranged subunits called capsomeres and covered with surface glycoprotein spikes. Within the coat is the genetic material in the form of single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA). The rabies virus is transmitted to humans from an infected animal bite. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 10 days to 1 year and include fever, breathing difficulties, muscle spasms, and hydrophobia.