The purpose of this research was to determine whether trappers in nort
hern Alaska acquired immunity to rabies virus from non-bite exposures
while trapping and skinning arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). In coastal
Alaska recurring epizootics presumably provide trappers ample opportun
ity for contact with rabid animals. Serum neutralization analyses of b
lood samples collected from 26 individuals were conducted. All but thr
ee had negative rabies neutralizing antibody levels (< 0.05 I.U./ml).
Two of these had. previously received rabies vaccine but one individua
l who had trapped for about 47 years with an estimated harvest of over
3000 foxes and who had never received pre- or post-exposure rabies va
ccination had a rabies serum neutralizing antibody concentration of 2.
30 I.U./ml. This represents the first report of an unvaccinated person
acquiring rabies virus antibody with a titre above the 0.5 I.U./ml le
vel considered acceptable by the World Health Organization.