Current oral rabies vaccination in Europe: an interim balance

The field trial for the oral immunization of foxes against rabies in the Federal Republic of Germany began in 1983 and since the end of 1985 has had the specific goal of the elimination of rabies in large interdependent areas of that country. To meet this goal it was necessary to develop methods for the large-scale production of the SAD (Street Alabama Dufferin) clone B19 vaccine as well as to develop a bait that could be mass-produced (the Tübingen fox bait). It has been shown that after a single vaccination campaign in the field approximately 75% of the fox population is immune to rabies and that after one or two repeated campaigns vaccination in many areas could be discontinued. Participation in the field trial in circumscribed border areas was extended to Italy in 1985 and to Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France in 1986. For the first time, through the use of oral immunization, a method for the elimination of rabies is available that is effective, safe, inexpensive, and practical. Further, this method meets the requirements of animal-protection societies, does not interfere with the preservation of endangered species, and therefore represents a significant political factor.