title: Safety studies on an adenovirus recombinant vaccine for rabies (AdRG1.3-ONRAB) in target and non-target species.
abstract: A replication-competent human adenovirus vector in which the rabies virus glycoprotein gene was inserted (AdRG1.3-ONRAB) was given by direct instillation into the oral cavity to representatives of three wildlife vector species of concern in Ontario (red fox, raccoon and striped skunk) and to a variety of non-target wildlife species, domestic and laboratory species. Despite use of a relatively high dose of vaccine, no untoward clinical signs were observed. Subsequent to vaccine exposure, detection of vaccine virus in lung, spleen, intestine, liver, kidney and brain of each animal was attempted using an ONRAB-specific assay combining PCR with Southern blotting (PCR-SB). Of the 1280 tissue samples obtained from vaccinates or contact animals, 18 (1.4%) were found to be PCR-SB positive. Virus isolation attempts were performed utilizing cell culture for all PCR-SB positive tissues and a selection of PCR-SB negative tissues. Histological examination performed on all PCR-SB positive tissues failed to identify lesions attributed to the vaccine. A quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the excretion of the vaccine in feces and in the oral cavity with 0.8% of oral swabs and 6.8% of fecal specimens found to be positive. The low rates of recovery of vaccine virus from tissues, feces and the oral cavity suggest that the likelihood of ONRAB causing a negative impact on wildlife species is unlikely.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. kim.knowles@inspection.gc.ca
authors.forename: M Kimberly
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nadin-Davis
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosatte
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beresford
mesh_terms: D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005589:Foxes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011818:Rabies / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011821:Raccoons / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C064951:glycoprotein G, Rabies virus