Studies on pathogenic, immunogenic, and protective efficiency of fox rabies virus before and after adaptation to cell culture: application to vaccination against rabies.

Rabies virus from the submandibular salivary gland of a naturally infected fox was adapted to growth in BHK-21 cells. The pathogenicity of the original isolate and the cell culture adapted virus were compared by the intramuscular and oral routes in mice and foxes. Animals surviving exposure were tested for serum rabies antibodies (immunogenic efficiency) and for their ability to survive a second challenge with rabies virus (protective efficiency).

[Modelling of spatial evolution and dynamics of a population of healthy then rabies infected foxes].

The authors describe the main feature of a computer model which helps to simulate the evolution of a rabies epi-enzootic in foxes. They show first the goals and interests of the study, then the originality of used methodology. Their results deal successively with dynamic evolution of a healthy population of foxes, then with this same population infected with rabies and, at last, spatial and temporal evolution of the enzootics.

[Radio-tracking of rabid foxes].

Three wild foxes were trapped, inoculated with rabid fox salivary glands virus and radio-tracked straightaway for about three weeks until the death of the animal. Comparison of movements between incubation and clinical period indicate principally no obvious alteration of the activity area; an important increase in movement, especially during the day-time and lastly some variable changes in the activity pattern according to the individual. A common characteristic was a long period of immobility, before death, near the border of the usual activity area.