Rabies vaccination trial in wild ruminants

A study of antibody levels in wild ruminants vaccinated against rabies

The authors have vaccinated 22 fallow deer (Dama dama) and 10 mouflons (Ovis ammon musimon) against rabies with an inactivated vaccine: 4 fallow deer with 1 ml, 14 fallow deer and 10 mouflons with 2 ml, 4 animals were kept as controls (fallow deer). The antibody responses were checked by fluorescent foci inhibition carried out on blood samples collected during a two-year period. All the animals developed antibody titres and were still protected after 24 months.

A summary of antibody titration experiments in some animal species treated with ERA vaccine and an inactivated rabies vaccine

The results of antibody titrations in different animal species vaccinated against rabies are reported. The following points are considered: (1) antibody titration may be used to detect an immunity status in dogs, (2) equines should be vaccinated in infected areas, (3) experiments in progress are comparing ERA vaccine and an inactivated vaccine in bovines, and (4) the vaccination of fallow deer (Dama dama) and moufflons (Ovis ammon musimon) produced results suggesting an extension of the experiment with the purpose of vaccinating wild ruminants whenever possible.