Effect of a booster-dose of rabies vaccine on the duration of virus neutralizing antibody titers in bovines

ABSTRACT

Humoral immune response using inactivated rabies vaccine was studied in 35 nelore cross-bred bovines of western region of Sao Paulo state. Ninety days after vaccination, 13 (92.8 percent) animals presented titers >/= 0.51U/ml, through mouse neutralization test. After 180 days, 9 (64.3 percent) sera showed titers >/= 0.51U/ml, after 270 days, only one (7. 1 percent) showed a titer of 0.51U/ml, and after 360 days, all animals showed titers < 0.5lU/ml. Group of animals receiving booster dose 30 days after vaccination presented, two months after, all with titers > 0.51U/ml. At 180 days, 17(80.9 percent) sera presented titers > 0.51U/ml; at 270 days, 15 (71.4 percent), with titers >/= 0.51U/ml and at 360 days, 4 (19.0 percent, with titers >/= 0.51U/ml. Booster-dose ensured high levels of neutralizing antibodies for at least three months, and 240 days after revaccination, 71.4 percent of animals were found with titers >/=0.51U/ml