[Rabies antibody production in ferrets after immunization with four different rabies vaccines]

The Development of Rabies Antibodies in Ferrets after Injection of Four Different Types of Rabies Vaccines. Experiments aimed at proving the suitability of ferrets in the routine testing of rabies vaccines for human and animal use were carried out. A total of 40 ferrets received four vaccines, two for use in humans and two for use in animals. For the determination of rabies antibodies, blood was taken on days 28 and 56, respectively, after inoculation of the vaccines. All animals developed antibodies of more than [0.5 IE/ml] serum as determined by RFFIT. The antibody titre following injection of the vaccines for animals (A1 and A2) was 4.1 IE/ml on day 28 and 5.86 IE/ml on day 56. The antibody titre following injection of the vaccines for humans was 6.64 IE/ml on day 28 and 8.87 IE/ml on day 56. The suitability of ferrets for the potency assay of rabies vaccines is discussed.