Serum antibody titers following routine rabies vaccination in African elephants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum antibody titers in captive African elephants (Loxodonta africana) following routine vaccination with a commercially available, inactivated rabies vaccine.


METHODS
Seroepidemiologic study.


METHODS
14 captive African elephants from a single herd.


METHODS
Elephants were vaccinated as part of a routine preventive health program. Initially, elephants were vaccinated annually (2 mL, IM), and blood was collected every 4 or 6 months for measurement of rabies virus-neutralizing antibody titer by means of the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. Individual elephants were later switched to an intermittent vaccination schedule to allow duration of the antibody response to be determined.


RESULTS
All elephants had detectable antibody responses following rabies vaccination, although there was great variability among individual animals in regard to antibody titers, and antibody titers could be detected as long as 24 months after vaccine administration. Young animals were found to develop an antibody titer following administration of a single dose of the rabies vaccine. Age and time since vaccination had significant effects on measured antibody titers.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that African elephants developed detectable antibody titers in response to inoculation with a standard large animal dose of a commercially available, inactivated rabies vaccine. The persistence of detectable antibody titers in some animals suggested that vaccination could be performed less frequently than once a year if antibody titers were routinely monitored.
Miller
Michele A
MA
Department of Veterinary Services, Disney's Animal Kingdom, PO Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32820, USA. mmiller@palmbeachzoo.org
Olea-Popelka
Francisco
F
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004606:Elephants / Q000097:blood*; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011819:Rabies Vaccines