Oral vaccination of raccoons (Procyon lotor) with an attenuated (SAD-B19) rabies virus vaccine.
Unlike previous reports to the contrary, raccoons (Procyon lotor) were successfully vaccinated against rabies with a liquid SAD-B19 attenuated virus vaccine administered per os and given in vaccine-laden baits. There was neither evidence of vaccine-induced rabies in raccoons nor in a limited safety trial with opossums (Didelphis virginiana) given SAD-B19. Protection from lethal street rabies virus infection was not absolute: only three of nine raccoons given 1 x 10(6.0) TCID/ml were protected versus five of 10 raccoons given 1 x 10(7.0) TCID/ml of SAD-B19 and challenged 4 mo after consumption of vaccine-laden baits. Six of eight raccoons consuming 1 x 10(8.8) TCID/ml of SAD-B19 vaccine in baits survived street rabies virus challenge 2 mo postvaccination. Raccoon survivorship was not wholly dependent upon rabies virus-neutralizing antibody titer on the day of challenge. Vaccinated raccoons demonstrated a prominent anamnestic response within 1 wk following challenge. Surviving raccoons were observed for a minimum of 3 mo following street rabies virus challenge with neither clinical nor pathologic evidence of rabies. The SAD-B19 rabies vaccine administered within baits in captivity appears less effective for raccoons than for its demonstrated efficacy in the immunization of free-ranging foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Europe.
Rupprecht
C E
CE
Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
Dietzschold
B
B
Cox
J H
JH
Schneider
L G
LG
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology; D011821:Raccoons; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated