Humoral immune response in dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies in southeastern Brazil

Avelino Albas,Hugo Vagner Bachega,Mário Tarumoto,Célio Soares,Miléia Picolo

doi:10.1186/1678-9199-19-17

Abstract

BackgroundBrazil holds annual nationwide public campaigns to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies. The presence of rabies antibodies in these animals, which are among the main transmitters of rabies to humans, is a good indicator that they are immunized and protected.MethodsIn the present study we analyzed 834 serum samples from dogs and cats from the Southeast of Brazil (Presidente Prudente and Dracena cities), 12 months after the 2009 vaccination campaign. We used the technique known as rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) and considered reactant those sera with values higher 0.5 IU/mL.Results and discussionReactant sample results in Presidente Prudente were 153 (51.0%) for dogs and 59 (32.6%) for cats, and in Dracena 110 (52.1%) for dogs and 71 (50.0%) for cats. We discussed vaccine coverage of animals involved in this experiment, and observed low titers < 0.5 IU/mL, especially in cats from Presidente Prudente.ConclusionAccording to the results presented in our experiment, we suggest that titers below 0.5 IU/mL are worrisome and that, for multiple reasons, animals should be immunized against rabies in the period between public vaccination campaigns. Hence, the desired vaccine coverage was not accomplished, especially among cats from Presidente Prudente.

Highlights

Brazil holds annual nationwide public campaigns to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies
According to the results presented in our experiment, we suggest that titers below 0.5 IU/mL are worrisome and that, for multiple reasons, animals should be immunized against rabies in the period between public vaccination campaigns
Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) We determined the titers of neutralizing antibodies in individuals by seroneutralization in BHK21 clone 13 cells

Summary

Introduction

Brazil holds annual nationwide public campaigns to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies. The causative agent is a virus that replicates and spreads via peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, where it passes to the salivary glands. It has a fatal prognosis and many humans and other animals are at risk of contagion [1,2]. The disease spread even to Australia, where it became endemic in 1996 [4,5] Some countries, such as the USA and some European nations, have been able to keep the cycle of urban rabies under control, except for sporadic transmission by wild animals [6,7]. According to the report entitled Boletín: Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Rabia en las Américas [8], dogs were the agents

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Results

Conclusion