A NEW COMPETITIVE ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY DEMONSTRATES ADEQUATE IMMUNE LEVELS TO RABIES VIRUS IN COMPULSORILY VACCINATED JAPANESEDOMESTIC DOGS

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) was develope d as an alternative to the viral neutralization (VN) test for rapid an d simple detection of antibodies to rabies virus. The Competitor antib ody in the c-ELISA was a biotinylated monoclonal antibody to the nucle oprotein of rabies virus. Initial comparisons showed a high correlatio n between titers obtained with the VN test and the c-ELISA (n = 88, r = 0.90), indicating that the c-ELISA could be used as a reliable subst itute for the VN test. To evaluate the immune status of Japanese dogs to rabies virus, a total of 1,019 serum samples were collected from do mestic dogs in 1994 and tested for antibodies with the c-ELISA. Overal l, 84.8% of the dogs had antibodies against rabies virus, indicating t hat the vaccination strategy for preventing rabies outbreaks in domest ic dogs is probably sufficient in Japan. Dogs receiving final vaccinat ions a year or more previously were 48.3 and 90.3% positive for antibo dies when vaccinated once only or two or more times, respectively. Thi s suggests that almost all dogs vaccinated twice or more remain seropo sitive for over 1 year in Japan.