Field Handling and Anti-Rabies Vaccine Efficacy

Abstract

Anti-rabies vaccine for dogs, earlier procured in 2008 from National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom was received for re-evaluation from the field. The field originated and reference samples of the same production batch (04/2008) were inoculated into 3-week old mice intracerebrally for comparison and observed daily for 21 days. There were no signs of illness, paralysis or death in the groups of mice inoculated with the field vaccine. Whereas deaths were observed between days 7 and 18 post inoculation in the groups inoculated with the reference sample, an indication of live rabies vaccine virus. Animals in the control group remained healthy throughout the period
of observation. This study shows that not all vaccines produced under Good Laboratory Practice and passed are biologically viable following exposure to field conditions due to poor handling and other factors. For efficiency of
immunization therefore, the quality of anti-rabies vaccine must be ensured by maintaining an effective cold chain on storage between the time of production, procurement and usage in the field.