Use of recombinant vaccinia-rabies virus for oral vaccination of fox cubs (Vulpes vulpes, L) against rabies.

Thirteen fox cubs were orally administered 10(7.2) plaque-forming units of live vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein recombinant virus. On Day 28 post-vaccination, all but 1 cub had produced rabies virus antibodies. Twelve animals were intramuscularly inoculated with 10(3.2) mouse intracerebral LD50 of rabies virus suspension on Days 33 (5 foxes), 180 (4 foxes) or 360 (3 foxes) after vaccination. Eleven of them resisted rabies challenge. Unvaccinated foxes, either put in contact with 1 vaccinated animal or used as controls, died after challenge applied on Day 33. The absence of horizontal transmission of this vaccine strain and its innocuity to cubs were also demonstrated.