Detection of antigenic differences among street and fixed rabies virus strains by the counterimmunoelectrophoresis test.

Using the counterimmunoelectrophoresis test, two street rabies virus strains (Mangosta and Apipe) revealed antigens not detected in the standard challenge virus (CVS). No antigenic differences, however, were found between CVS and another fixed rabies virus strain (strain 91) by this method. The results of serum neutralization tests revealed similar antigenic relationships among the rabies virus strains studied. These findings are discussed in terms of their significance to antigenic variations in rabies virus strains.