Long-Term Immunogenicity and Efficacy of the Oral Rabies Virus Vaccine Strain SPBN GASGAS in Foxes

Viruses. 2019 Aug 27;11(9):790. doi: 10.3390/v11090790.

Abstract

: To evaluate the long-term immunogenicity of the live-attenuated, oral rabies vaccine SPBN GASGAS in a full good clinical practice (GCP) compliant study, forty-six (46) healthy, seronegative red foxes (Vulpesvulpes) were allocated to two treatment groups: group 1 (n = 31) received a vaccine bait containing 1.7 ml of the vaccine of minimum potency (106.6 FFU/mL) and group 2 (n = 15) received a placebo-bait. In total, 29 animals of group 1 and 14 animals of group 2 were challenged at 12 months post-vaccination with a fox rabies virus isolate (103.0 MICLD50/mL). While 90% of the animals offered a vaccine bait resisted the challenge, only one animal (7%) of the controls survived. All animals that had seroconverted following vaccination survived the challenge infection at 12 months post-vaccination. Rabies specific antibodies could be detected as early as 14 days post-vaccination. Based on the kinetics of the antibody response to SPBN GASGAS as measured in ELISA and RFFIT, the animals maintained stable antibody titres during the 12-month pre-challenge observation period at a high level. The results indicate that successful vaccination using the oral route with this new rabies virus vaccine strain confers long-term duration of immunity beyond one year, meeting the same requirements as for licensure as laid down by the European Pharmacopoeia.

Keywords: SPBN GASGAGS; efficacy; genetically engineered vaccine; long-term immunogenicity; oral rabies vaccines; rabies; red foxes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Foxes
  • Immunogenicity, Vaccine
  • Rabies / immunology
  • Rabies / prevention & control
  • Rabies / veterinary*
  • Rabies Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Rabies virus / immunology*
  • Vaccination / veterinary
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Rabies Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Attenuated