Reduced schedule of human anti-rabies immunization with Fuenzalida & Palacios vaccine. Additional data

It was reevaluated a reduced schedule for anti-rabies post-exposure immunization with newborn mice nervous tissue vaccine (Fuenzalida & Palacios) in a group of 30 non exposed volunteers. The vaccine was administered by intramuscular injections on days zero, 2, 4, 16 and 27, in the deltoid area. Antibody levels were determinated by a simplified serum neutralization microtest on days zero, 16 and 37. On days 16 and 37 the antibody levels of the whole group was > or = 0.5 IU/ml and > or = 1.0 IU/ml, respectively. The cell mediated immunity was precociously detected (on day 4) by the delayed type hypersensitivity skin test. Our results show that this reduced schedule elicited an early and effective humoral and cellular immune response. However it is necessary other studies with larger groups of vaccinees in order to obtain definitive conclusion.

Simplified fluorescent inhibition microtest for the titration of rabies neutralizing antibodies

A simplified fluorescence inhibition microtest (SFIMT) was standardized for the evaluation of antirabies serum neutralizing antibodies based on the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) and the fluorescence inhibition microtest (FIMT). The simplified test showed reproducibility similar to that of the FIMT with advantages as easier executation and quicker reading. A simple pre-treatment of Brazilian microplates produced for immune enzymatic assays (PROSIL) gave equivalent results and substantial coast reduction, in relation to imported plates (DIFCO). The simplified test can be easily implemented in less sophisticated laboratories, as alternative to the mouse serum neutralization test, still the most largely employed in Brazil, or even to others as RFFIT and FIMT.

Esquema reduzido de vacinacao anti-rabica humana pre-exposicao e avaliacao de doses anuais de reforco. / Reduced schedule of human pre-exposure antirabies vaccination and evaluation of annual booster doses

Sao apresentados os resultados do emprego de esquema de vacinacao anti-rabica humana pre-exposicao, constituido de 3 doses de vacina tipo Fuenzalida-Palacios administradas a 165 pacientes em dias alternados, mais uma dose de reforco no 30o dia apos a dose inicial. Os titulos de anticorpos foram determinados por prova de soroneutralizacao em amostras de sangue colhidas antes, 30 e 40 dias apos administracao da primeira dose. Verificou-se que no 30o dia, 74,6% dos pacientes apresentaram anticorpos neutralizantes no soro,valor que se elevou a 98,1% no quadragesimo dia, o que mostra a eficacia do esquema em relacao a resposta imunitaria em tempo relativamente curto e a importancia da dose de reforco como estimulo a producao de anticorpos.Nos pacientes submetidos as doses anuais de reforco num periodo de 10 anos, verificou-se aumento gradual da presenca de anticorpos antes da administracao da dose de reforco subsequente, ate atingir valores de 100%. Face aos resultados obtidos foi sugerido que as doses de reforco sejam administradas a intervalos de tempo maiores e precedidas da titulagem de anticorpos a fim de se avaliar da necessidade ou nao de sua administracao