Kinetics of humoral immune response after rabies VR-G oral vaccination of captive fox cubs (Vulpes vulpes) with or without maternally derived antibodies against the vaccine
E. Blasco et al., Kinetics of humoral immune response after rabies VR-G oral vaccination of captive fox cubs (Vulpes vulpes) with or without maternally derived antibodies against the vaccine, VACCINE, 19(32), 2001, pp. 4805-4815
In western Europe during the spring, the largest proportion of fox populati
ons are cubs and the key to successful rabies oral vaccination campaigns is
cub vaccination. In this paper we report on studies of the serology of 93
fox (Vulpes vulpes) cubs born to unvaccinated and orally vaccinated captive
vixens, some of which were orally vaccinated at 30 or at 90 days of age wi
th the vaccinia recombinant vaccine (VR-G) that expresses the rabies virus
glycoprotein. The duration of cub passively acquired antibody, the developm
ent of immune responses to oral vaccination at either 30 or 90 days of age.
. possible interference between passive and active immunity to such vaccina
tion and resistance to a potentially lethal rabies challenge dose when five
months old were measured. The study showed that rabies neutralising antibo
dy can be passed to their cubs by vixens orally vaccinated with VR-G during
pregnancy. Maternally derived antibody titres in cubs declined with time a
nd disappeared by 45-75 days after birth. Thirty days old cubs serologicall
y responded to oral vaccination. No interference between antibody of matern
al origin and active immunity conferred by VR-G oral vaccination or between
antibody of maternal origin and protection was observed. Thus, very young
cub immunisation against rabies with VR-G per os is possible whatever the i
mmune status of their mothers. Provided a vaccine-bait suitable for such yo
ung cubs exists, oral vaccination at den entrances with VR-G is a feasibili
ty. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.