Kinetics of rabies-neutralising antibodies in non-human primates after the injection of adjuvanted and inactivated rabies vaccine

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the humoral response of 33 captive non-human primates from the Friguia zoo Park (Sousse district, Tunisia) following vaccination with an adjuvanted and inactivated rabies virus vaccine. The animals were sampled at day one, then at day 30, day 180 and day 365 post-vaccination. Antibody titration was performed using the FAVN (fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation) method in the national reference laboratory for rabies in Tunisia at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis. One-month post-vaccination, 100% of animals seroconverted, and 76.5% maintained a high titre up to 1 year. However, a decrease in titres was observed at day 180 and day 365, mainly in baboons and apes, respectively, whereas lemurs maintained a high titre up to 1-year post-vaccination.
Contribution: In light of these results, we can recommend that the vaccination protocol for the primates at Friguia zoo Park be based on an initial vaccination with the adjuvanted and inactivated rabies virus vaccine, followed by an annual booster for lemurs and a semi-annual booster for baboons and apes.