Effect of one booster dose in antirabies vaccination

The antibody response obtained after one booster dose of rabies vaccine prepared in suckling mice brains at Serviço de Saúde Pública da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro is described. Four prime vaccinal groups were used: group I, persons who had received 16 doses 10 years before this investigation; group II, persons who had received 5 doses of the vaccine 10 years before; group III, persons who had received 9 doses 5 years before; and group IV, persons who had received 16 doses 5 years before. One booster dose of the vaccine was administered to all persons involved in the study. Blood samples were collected before vaccination (day 0), then 7 and 30 days after vaccination. Antibody titres were determined by seroneutralization test in mice (SWM). The results demonstrated that all persons who had been treated with 5, 9 or 16 doses of the vaccine 5 to 10 years before had their antibody titres increased on the 7th and 30th days after one booster dose.