INFLUENCE OF AGE FACTORS ON IMMUNIZABILITY OF MICE TO RABIES VIRUS

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Abstract
The immunizability against rabies virus infection of W-Swiss mice of different ages has been studied. As vaccines, either virulent or avirulent rabies virus suspensions have been used. The test infection was given either intracerebrally or intramuscularly 3 weeks following the beginning of immunization; in some of the expts. the mice were tested for circulating neutralizing antibodies immediately before infection. In general, mice 60 or more days old are more readily immunizable against rabies virus infection by any route than are 20-day-old or young mice. This difference in immunizability with increasing age is most conspicuous when vaccination with virulent virus is followed by an intra-cerebral test infection and is least apparent when vaccination with avirulent virus is followed by an intramuscular test infection. Circulating neutralizing antibodies were found in equal titer in all mice, including those mice that, at the time of vaccination, were only 7 days old. The titer of the antibodies does not parallel immunity.

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