THE DEVELOPMENT OF RABIES ANTIBODIES IN F ERRETS AFTER INJECTION OF 4DIFFERENT TYPES OF RABIES VACCINES

The Development of Rabies Antibodies in Ferrets after Injection of Fou r Different Types of Rabies Vaccines. Experiments aimed at proving the suitability of ferrets in the routine testing of rabies vaccines for human and animal use were carried out. A total of 40 ferrets received four vaccines, two for use in humans and two for use in animals. For t he determination of rabies antibodies, blood was taken on days 28 and 56, respectively, after inoculation of the vaccines. All animals devel oped antibodies of more than [0.5 IE/ml] serum as determined by RFFIT. The antibody titre following injection of the vaccines for animals (A l and A2) was 4.1 IE/ml on day 28 and 5.86 IE/ml on day 56. The antibo dy titre following injection of the vaccines for humans was 6.64 IE/ml on day 28 and 8.87 IE/ml on day 56. The suitability of ferrets for th e potency assay of rabies vaccines is discussed.