Progress and achievement of rabies control in Thailand.

The breakthrough in production of highly efficacious human and animal rabies vaccines has led to successful rabies control in developed countries, but rabies is still a major health problem in many developing countries. In Thailand, the new cell culture vaccines-purified chick embryo cell (PCEC), purified Vero cell (PVRV), purified duck embryo (PDEV) and human diploid cell (HDCV) are available, and since 1993 have completely replaced the nervous tissue vaccines. The impact of these cell culture vaccines has been considerable, with the number of human rabies deaths decreasing from 200-300 in the early 1980s to 74 in 1995.

A simplified and economical intradermal regimen of purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine for postexposure prophylaxis.

Healthy volunteers were randomized to receive either intradermal purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine (PCEC) alone (0.1 ml at each of two sites on days 0, 3 and 7, and at one site on days 28 and 90) (n = 81), or intradermal PCEC with one dose of human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) intramuscularly at 20 IU kg-1 on day 0 (n = 52). Neutralizing antibody (NAB) was detectable in every volunteer, in both groups, from day 14 up to day 365.

The abbreviated 2-1-1 schedule of purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccination for rabies postexposure treatment.

During August 1988 to January 1990, the immunogenicity and safety of purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine (PCEC) given by the conventional and abbreviated regimens in 82 vaccinees moderately to severely exposed to laboratory proven rabid animals were studied. The 16 vaccinees received PCEC six doses as conventional schedule on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90, the 11 vaccinees received six doses of PCEC plus human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) on day 0. The 29 vaccinees received an abbreviated schedule of PCEC as two doses on day 0, one dose each on days 7 and 21 and the 26 cases received PCEC abbreviated schedule plus HRIG on day 0.

Follow-up of protective antibody level after post-exposure vaccination with purified tissue culture rabies vaccine (PCEC) small doses intradermally.

Twenty-nine vaccinees, 18 males, 11 females, aged 2-61 years (median 12 years) received PCEC intradermally for post-exposure prophylaxis during February to May 1989. Twenty-one cases received 4 sites of 0.1 ml ID on days 0, 3, 7 and 1 site ID on days 28 and 90.