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Post-exposure rabies treatment in pigs
Channarong Mitmoonpitak1, Sukunya Limusanno, Pakamatz Khawplod
1Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, 1871 Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Vaccine
|April 26, 2002
Summary
This study tested a human rabies vaccine regimen on pigs exposed to rabies. The treatment proved safe and effective, with all pigs surviving and developing antibodies, suggesting its potential for valuable livestock.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Immunology
- Zoonotic Diseases
Background:
- Rabid dog attacks on livestock pose significant economic and public health risks.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is crucial for preventing rabies transmission in mammals.
- Limited data exists on the efficacy of human-type rabies PEP in large farm animals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a human-derived post-exposure rabies vaccine regimen in pigs.
- To assess the immunogenicity of the vaccine regimen, with and without rabies immunoglobulin.
- To determine the long-term survival and antibody response in pigs following rabies exposure and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Eleven adult pigs were experimentally exposed to a rabid dog.
- Pigs received a commercial veterinary tissue culture rabies vaccine and equine rabies immune globulin (RIG) in a specific regimen.
- Antibody titers were measured to assess immunogenicity post-vaccination.
Main Results:
- All 11 pigs survived the 1-year observation period post-exposure.
- Detectable rabies-neutralizing antibodies were observed in all pigs by day 7.
- Antibody levels exceeded 0.5 IU/ml by day 14 in all treated animals.
Conclusions:
- A human-type post-exposure rabies vaccine regimen, including rabies immunoglobulin, is safe and effective in pigs.
- The tested regimen successfully induced a protective immune response in pigs following rabies exposure.
- This approach offers a viable strategy for rabies prevention in valuable livestock populations.