Viral RNA in the bloodstream suggests viremia occurs in clinically ill rabies-infected mice.

Data regarding the occurrence of a viremia during rabies virus infections are contradictory. Here, we attempted to clarify the dissimilar results using a qualitative TaqMan PCR assay to detect viral RNA in blood of mice that had been injected intramuscularly with rabies virus. Viral RNA was detected at two different intervals.

One-time intradermal DNA vaccination in ear pinnae one year prior to infection protects dogs against rabies virus.

Rabid dog exposures result in > 99% of human rabies deaths worldwide. Ninety-eight percent of these cases occur in developing countries. Thus, the best protection against human rabies would be prevention through adequate vaccination of the reservoir population.

Rabies DNA vaccines for protection and therapeutic treatment.

Rabies is a successful zoonotic disease that has persisted over time, achieving worldwide distribution in a variety of species. Annually, in developing countries with limited access to high-quality antirabies biologics, approximately 50,000 individuals and millions of animals die of rabies. Many of these countries continue to use vaccines produced in sheep, goat or suckling mouse brain, with ultraviolet light or phenol inactivation of the virus.

Live vaccinia-rabies virus recombinants, but not an inactivated rabies virus cell culture vaccine, protect B-lymphocyte-deficient A/WySnJ mice against rabies: considerations of recombinant defective poxviruses for rabies immunization of immunocompromised individuals.

Presently, commercially available cell culture rabies vaccines for humans and animals consist of the five inactivated rabies virus proteins. The vaccines elicit a CD4+ helper T-cell response and a humoral B-cell response against the viral glycoprotein (G) resulting in the production of virus neutralizing antibody. Antibody against the viral nucleoprotein (N) is also present, but the mechanism(s) of its protection is unclear.

Rabies cell culture vaccines reconstituted and stored at 4 degrees C for 1 year prior to use protect mice against rabies virus.

Human exposure to rabid dogs in developing countries is an ongoing problem that continues to demand effective, safe, and affordable post-exposure rabies vaccinations. Sheep and suckling mouse brain rabies vaccines used in developing countries are being replaced by expensive inactivated-virus cell culture vaccines. Human studies using cell culture vaccines have determined that cost is reduced and protection is maintained by injecting the unused portion of vaccines that have been reconstituted and stored refrigerated for 1 week.