title: Post-exposure use of human diploid cell culture rabies vaccine.
abstract: 880 individuals, 120 of which were exposed to rabid animals, were immunized pre- or post-exposure with 2 different BPL-inactivated and concentrated rabies vaccines prepared in HDC strains WI-38 and MRC-5. The vaccines were well tolerated and no major side effects were observed after primary immunization with 3-10 doses or 1 booster vaccination. The dynamics of neutralizing, antibody formation and persistence of antibodies in 4 different groups of vaccinees are described. The groups were vaccinated pre-exposure (I) on days 0, 28 and 56; (II) on days 0, 7 and 14; (III) on days 0, 3, 7 and 21; and (IV) post-exposure on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 90. High antibody levels--persisting for at least 30 months--were obtained in all patients. The CFT, using a concentrated and purified virion antigen, was highly specific for rabies virus antibody demonstration. Since in some 50 patients under severe risk, after having been bitten and/or scratched by proven rabid animals, not a single breakthough of immunity was observed during an observation time between 1/2 and 3 years, the protective effect of the HDCS-rabies vaccines seems to be excellent. With regard to their high immunogenicity and extremely low reactogenicity, the new HDCS-vaccines can be recommended for prophylactic and post-exposure immunization of man without any reserve. Data on simultaneous application of homologous anti-rabies gammaglobulin from man (20 I.E./kg body-weight) and HDCS-vaccines are also presented and discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011818:Rabies / Q000175:diagnosis; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014776:Virus Cultivation
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007106:Immune Sera; D011819:Rabies Vaccines