Immunogenicity Following Dog Rabies Vaccination: A Sri Lankan Experience

Proper canine vaccination and the efficacy of vaccines play a major role in controlling rabies in rabies-endemic countries. This chapter focuses on two studies that demonstrated humoral immunity following dog rabies vaccination (RV) of puppies, juveniles and adult dogs. The results of these studies indicated the necessity of a primary and a booster vaccination when given for the first time to a puppy, juvenile or adult dog, followed by an annual booster. Quantitative analysis of antibody responses in these studies, and the recommendations made, were considered for the revision of the dog RV protocol in Sri Lanka to maintain a good immune response in the dog population. This chapter also discusses two ongoing studies that were initiated to determine the effectiveness of this revised protocol. The ultimate aim is to control and prevent dog rabies in Sri Lanka and to achieve zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by the year 2030.