Historical analysis of epizootiological situation of rabies on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Currently, Slovakia is a rabies-free country, but the epizootiological situation of rabies was not always favorable. The main reservoir species of rabies virus in the first half of the last century was the domestic dog. Since 1906, hundreds of cases were reported, of which approximately 90% were infected dogs.

Detection of rabies antibodies in dog sera.

In the presented work, we compared the results of determination of rabies antibodies using three in vitro methods: rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT), fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation test (FAVNT) and the immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA). 196 dog sera samples were examined with FAVNT, RFFIT methods and the ELISA test. Sera with low and sufficiently high titre of antibodies had a similar result in determining by all methods.

Experimental squalene adjuvant. II. Harmlessness and local reactogenity.

Model experiments on laboratory animals (guinea pigs) were carried out to test the possible allergic reaction (possibility of sensitisation) to the repeated administration of an experimental lipoid adjuvant prepared on the basis of squalene (experimental squalene adjuvant--ESA). No significant differences were observed between the animals sensitised-provoked with ESA and control animals. In order to evaluate the local tissue reactivity (local reactogenity), also with regard to the process dynamics to the administration of ESA, comparative patho-anatomical and patho-histological examinations of tissues were carried out in the location of adjuvant administration.

Experimental squalene adjuvant. I. Preparation and testing of its effectiveness.

The authors prepared experimental lipoid adjuvant of the oil-in-water (O/W) type, based on squalene (ESA: experimental squalene adjuvant), intended for liquid inactivated veterinary vaccines. The final concentration of squalene in the vaccine was 5% (w/v). Detergents Poloxamer 105 in the concentration of 4% (w/v) and Abil-Care in the concentration of 2% were used as emulsifiers.

[Correction of measurement errors in the ELISA test].

The authors followed the influence of the arrangement of measured and control samples on microtitration plate on the ELISA test results by quantitative evaluation of rabies antibodies titres in human blood serum. They performed the test under identical conditions in all microtitration plate wells. They calculated the result according to five calibration curves--four of them were obtained by different positioning of the control positive and negative sera and the fifth curve was obtained from average values.