[The vaccination of cattle against rabies. Antibody kinetics, resistance to challenge three years after vaccination].

The kinetics and the titre of the serum neutralising antibodies have been studied for 55 months, in eight cows already vaccinated against rabies with a commercial vaccine. The titres remained stable during this period and increased after the booster injection 16 months after the primary immunization. The protection obtained with this vaccine was tested. These cattle and five controls were inoculated in each masseter muscle in the 55th month with a street rabies virus suspension (5 x 10(5) MICLD50). None or very low serum neutralising antibody titres were found among the controls. However, the inoculation of street rabies virus elicited an irregular immune response among the vaccinated cows. All the controls died whereas all the cows which had received one booster injection survived.