THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF IMMUNIZING FOXES (VULPES-VULPES) USING BAIT CONTAINING ATTENUATED RABIES VIRUS-VACCINE

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (2) , 169-176
Abstract
Foxes given ERA rabies vaccine baits were challenged 1, 6, 12 and 24 mo. later and showed a resistance to challenge in 80%, 78%, 60% and 44% of individuals, respectively. All animals showing seroconversion following vaccination resisted challenge at 24 mo., suggesting that successful vaccination by the oral route could confer a relatively long term duration of immunity. The trials showed that fox pups did not immunize as easily as adult foxes using ERA rabies vaccine baits. Back-passage studies and the consumption of ERA injected mice by foxes showed no reversion of the vaccine virus to a virulent state. The fox and mouse are highly susceptible to rabies street virus, while the domestic species tested are considerably more resistant. Monkeys were intermediate in susceptibility to the virus. Safety tests carried out on various species of wildlife showed only the mouse to be susceptible to infection from ingesting the vaccine in the form of a bait. ERA rabies vaccine was safe in monkeys, even when high titered virus was administered by the oral route.