[Comparison of PVRV and HDCV rabies vaccines as to immunity, reliability and protective value]

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a new Inactivated Rabies Vaccine grown on Vero Cells, (PVRV: Purified Vero Rabies Vaccine) with the vaccine cultivated on Human Diploid Cells (HDCV: Human Diploid Cell Vaccine), for both pre and post-exposure prophylaxis. Following the widespread use of HDCV and PVRV, many comparative clinical trials have been conducted, studying the safety and predictive values of these two vaccines. In the present study, using the schedule recommended by the WHO for preexposure prophylaxis, days on 0, 7 and 21, we vaccinated 90 healthy male volunteers, age ranged between 18 and 24 (mean 20) and may expose to a risk of rabies. These 90 volunteers randomly divided into 3 different groups with 30 people in each. First group vaccinated by PVRV, 2nd by HDCV and the last group by placebo (PS) double blind. The neutralizing antibody titration was measured by Rapid Immunofluorescence Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) on days 0, 7, 21, 28 and 60 in Laboratories of Pasteur-Merieux, Lyon-France. On day 21, in both PVRV and HDCV group the neutralizing antibody titres have occurred and the difference was not statically significant (P less than 0.05). No serious side-effects occurred with either vaccine, although some vaccinees complained of redness, induration or local pain and exceptionally of fever, and lymphadenopathy. The geometric mean of antibody titres shows a higher titre in both PVRV and HDCV group on the 60th day of following 1st vaccination. Suggesting that a year-long protection could easily be provided with the both vaccines, till to the 1st booster dose administration.