Duration of immunity in foxes vaccinated orally with ERA vaccine in a bait

• Published in: Canadian journal of veterinary research Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 39 - 42
• Main Authors: Lawson, K.F, Chiu, H, Crosgrey, S.J, Matson, M, Casey, G.A, Campbell, J.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada 1997
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animal Feed; Animals; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibody Formation; baits; Cell Line; disease prevention; era strain; Foxes - immunology; immunity; live vaccines; oral vaccination; rabies; Rabies - immunology; Rabies - prevention & control; Rabies Vaccines - administration & dosage; Rabies virus; Rabies virus - pathogenicity; strains; Virulence; virus neutralization; Vulpes vulpes
• ISSN: 0830-9000

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) vaccinated orally with the ERA strain of rabies vaccine in a bait were challenged after 83 mo. Ten of 11 foxes that had seroconverted following vaccination resisted challenge with a virulent rabies virus which produced clinical signs of rabies in 6 of 6 unvaccinated foxes. Five of 11 vaccinated animals retained titers of rabies virus neutralizing antibody throughout the period. Although 6 of 11 had no detectable antibody at the time of challenge, 5 of these 6 resisted challenge and had an anamnestic response, as indicated by elevated titers of antibody when measured at day 77 postchallenge. These results show that foxes can be immunized successfully with a single oral dose of ERA vaccine, probably with protection against a lethal rabies challenge, for at least 7 y.