Immunization of foxes against rabies with a vaccinia recombinant virus expressing the rabies glycoprotein

Foxes were vaccinated orally (by bait), gastrically (by stomach tube) and by scarification with a vaccinia recombinant virus expressing the rabies glycoprotein. Neutralizing antibodies against rabies virus were detected at two weeks postvaccination in 8/8 foxes in the bait-fed group, in 3/6 foxes inoculated by stomach tube and in 2/2 of the scarified foxes. After challenge at three months postvaccination with street rabies virus, all foxes that had developed antibodies were protected. The high rate of seroconversion, high levels of antibodies, and resistance to challenge suggest that this recombinant virus might be a suitable vaccine for oral immunization of foxes against rabies.