Rabies antibodies in vaccinated dogs

Forty-seven healthy, owned dogs were vaccinated with Madivak and 85 with Rabisin. Geometric mean titres of 17.40 and 1.03 IU/ml were measured by the rapid immunofluorescent focus inhibition test 30-40 and 350-370 days, respectively, after a single injection. Four out of 130 (3.1%) and 18 out of 106 (17%) dogs had a titre of less than 0.5 IU/ml in serum 30-40 and 350-370 days after vaccination. Twenty-one dogs (19.8%) had a titre of 0.5 IU/ml 350-370 days after vaccination. There was no significant difference in antibody levels between animals vaccinated with Rabisin or Madivak. Our results indicate that a booster is always necessary after a single injection to ensure that all dogs have a lasting antibody titre.