Duration of immunity in foxes vaccinated orally with ERA vaccine in a bait.
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) vaccinated orally with the ERA strain of rabies vaccine in a bait were challenged after 83 mo. Ten of 11 foxes that had seroconverted following vaccination resisted challenge with a virulent rabies virus which produced clinical signs of rabies in 6 of 6 unvaccinated foxes. Five of 11 vaccinated animals retained titers of rabies virus neutralizing antibody throughout the period. Although 6 of 11 had no detectable antibody at the time of challenge, 5 of these 6 resisted challenge and had an anamnestic response, as indicated by elevated titers of antibody when measured at day 77 postchallenge. These results show that foxes can be immunized successfully with a single oral dose of ERA vaccine, probably with protection against a lethal rabies challenge, for at least 7 y.
Lawson
K F
KF
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Natural Heritage Science Section, Maple.
Chiu
H
H
Crosgrey
S J
SJ
Matson
M
M
Casey
G A
GA
Campbell
J B
JB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002460:Cell Line; D005589:Foxes / Q000276:immunology*; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011819:Rabies Vaccines