ANTIRABIES VACCINATION - EARLY SEROLOGICA L RESPONSE TO VACCINE CULTIVATED ON VERO CELLS USING A 2-1-1-POSTEXPOSURE SCHEDULE

Objectives: An abbreviated 2-1-1 schedule for post-exposure rabies vac cination would theoretically lead to more rapid production of specific antibodies than the classical schedule. We measured early serological response to the 2-1-1 schedule. Methods: Patients consulting the anti rabies centre of the Epinal hospital from June 1992 to June 1993 who h ad never been vaccinated and whose exposure history justified antirabi es vaccination were included in this study. Fifty subjects were vaccin ated with PVRV (purified vero rabies vaccine, Pasteur Institute) cultu red on VERO (vervet monkey origin) cells using the abbreviated 2-1-1 s chedule of 2 doses (0.5 ml = 2.5 IU/dose) on day 0 and 1 dose on days 7 and 21. Antirabies antibodies were assayed using the Platelia Rage i mmunoenzyme method (Diagnostic Pasteur) on day 21. Titres above 0.5 IU were considered to give protection and non-protected subjects were se en again on day 28 for a supplementary dose. Results: Only 34 subjects (68%) had protective antibody titres on day 21, but by day 28, 48 (96 %) had acquired immunity. In this study population, the age range was from 1 to 83 years and age over 30 years appeared to delay antibody fo rmation. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of initia l antirabies immunoglobulins if short incubation in suspected and the need for serological follow-up if delayed antibody formation is suspec ted (subjects over 30).