RACCOON POXVIRUS RABIES VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN RECOMBINANT VACCINE IN SHEEP

Twenty sheep were divided into groups and inoculated by various routes with recombinant raccoon poxvirus expressing the CVS rabies virus gly coprotein (rRCNV-G) or with raccoon poxvirus (RCNV). The apparent inno cuous pathologic responses to each virus coupled with development of h igh levels of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in animals vaccinat ed with rRCNV-G intradermally or intramuscularly suggested that the re combinant is effective and that RCNV would be a suitable substrate for further development of sheep vaccines. Poor antibody response to rRCN V-G given orally implied that it would be relatively harmless if inadv ertently ingested by sheep. Virus transmission between vaccinated and sentinel sheep was not observed or detected serologically.