title: Kinetics of rabies antibodies as a strategy for canine active immunization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rabies, a zoonosis found throughout the globe, is caused by a virus of the Lyssavirus genus. The disease is transmitted to humans through the inoculation of the virus present in the saliva of infected mammals. Since its prognosis is usually fatal for humans, nationwide public campaigns to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies aim to break the epidemiological link between the virus and its reservoirs in Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 12 months we evaluated the active immunity of dogs first vaccinated (booster shot at 30 days after first vaccination) against rabies using the Fuenzalida-Palácios modified vaccine in the urban area of Botucatu city, São Pauto state, Brazil. Of the analyzed dogs, 54.7% maintained protective titers (≥0.5 IU/mL) for 360 days after the first vaccination whereas 51.5% during all the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest a new vaccination schedule for dogs that have never been vaccinated. In addition to the first dose of vaccine, two others are recommended: the second at 30 days after the first and the third dose at 180 days after the first for the maintenance of protective titers during 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Selene Daniela
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Babboni
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Production, Veterinary Medicine School, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hení Falcão
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases, Center for the Control of Zoonosis of São Paulo City, São Paulo, São Paulo state, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luzia de Fátima Alves
authors.initials: Lde F
authors.lastname: Martorelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases, Center for the Control of Zoonosis of São Paulo City, São Paulo, São Paulo state, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula de Arruda Geraldes
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cassiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Rafael
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Modolo
keywords: Annual vaccination campaign; Dogs; Fuenzalida-Palácios; Rabies; Revaccination; Vaccination