Rhesus diploid rabies vaccine (adsorbed): neurological safety in guinea pigs and Lewis rats.

Rabies vaccine produced in rhesus diploid cells (RDRV) and adsorbed on aluminium phosphate was evaluated for its neurological safety in guinea pigs and Lewis rats. The vaccine (as well as aluminium phosphate itself) in combination with myelin basic protein did not induce experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) when injected into either species. RDRV combined with complete Freund's adjuvant still failed to induce any signs of EAE. In contrast, basic protein combined with complete Freund's adjuvant induced severe EAE in both guinea pigs and rats. No experimental evidence was obtained to indicate adverse neuroimmunological activity of RDRV.