1. IMMUNOGENICITY OF ERA G 333 STRAIN
IN FOXES AND RACCOON DOGS
D. Bankovskiy(1, 2), G. Safonov(1) and Y. Kurilchuk(1)
(1) Pokrov Plant of Biologics, Volginskiy, Russia.
(2) All-Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Virology
and Microbiology, Pokrov, Russia.

2. Oral vaccination
Two oral vaccines have been used for wild life rabies vaccination in Russia
Not enough vaccine quantity have been used for ORV campaigns
There was concern about safety and efficacy of vaccine rabies strains
Russia still needs a safe and efficient vaccine strain

3. ERA G 333 Created by reversed genetics
Have been received from collaborators at CDC
As part of BTEP program
Avirulent for 11 species of target and non target animals

4. The immunogenicity experiment design. Part I: foxes
Species #
VNA titers, IU/ml
Day of death
Comments
Before challenge
Day 30 after challenge
Day 60 after challenge
fox 1
4.46
7.74
5.87 - 2
<0.04
2.56
1.12 3
0.87
0.65 4
0.86 5
1.14 6
1.50 7
2.51
1.99 8 9
0.13
0.50
0.29 10
0.85 11
20th 12
15th
unvaccinated control 13
17th 14
21st

5. The immunogenicity experiment design. Part II: raccoon dogs
Species #
VNA titers, IU/ml
Day of death
Comments
Before challenge
Day 30 after challenge
Day 60 after challenge
Raccoon dog 1
13.45
13.46
10.44 - 2
23.37
21.43
18.15 3
2.56
10.21
4.56 4
<0.04
12th
unvaccinated control 5
14th 6
15th 7
0.50
0.86 8
21st 9
18th 10
22nd 11
17th

6. RESULTS
63% of foxes and 33% of raccoon dogs showed seroconversion by day 60 after vaccination.
After challenge with virulent rabies virus strain 90% of foxes and 50% of raccoon dogs have survived.

7. CONCLUSIONS
The appropriate immunogenicity of ERA G 333 for foxes and raccoon dogs has been shown in this experiment.
This strain is the strong candidate for new oral rabies vaccine.
The decision about future use of ERA G 333 strain can be made after the determination of immunity duration and minimal efficient doze of the vaccine virus.

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pokrov Plant of Biologics
Staff of the Rabies Program of CDC
BTEP