INNOCUITY STUDIES OF SAG-2 ORAL RABIES VACCINE IN VARIOUS ZIMBABWEAN WILD NONTARGET SPECIES

The SAG-2 modified live rabies vaccine was tested for innocuity when a dministered by the oral route in several potential wild non-target bai t-consuming species, as follows: ten chacma baboons (Papio ursinus), s ix African civets (Civettictis civetta), six slender mongooses (Galere lla sanguinea), six honey badgers (Mellivora capensis), six large-spot ted genets (Genetta tigrina), 39 multi-mammate mice (Mastomys natalens is), 26 bushveld gerbils (Tatera leucogaster) and six pied crows (Corv us albus). At least 9.0 log(10) median tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50), given in a volume of I mi was administered orally to each o f the animals, except the rodents which received 8.0 log(10) TCID50, g iven in 0.1 ml. All the animals were observed for not <90 days for sig ns of vaccine-induced rabies. Most of the species were also tested for vaccine virus replication in the oral cavity and persistent virus inf ection in the brain, salivary gland and tonsil. None of the animals di ed of rabies and no persistent infection was found Rabies virus which was pathologically and serotypically, indistinguishable from the vacci nal strain was isolated from the saliva of one genet 1 day after vacci ne administration From this study it was concluded that SAG-2 rabies v accine would be safe for use in most situations where oral vaccination campaigns for jackals are required in Zimbabwe. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.