[Properties and potency of a rabies vaccine produced on the brain matter of young goats and inactivated by beta-propiolactone].

The vaccine produced by the Institut Pasteur of Algeria consists of a 5% suspension of brain matter of young goats inoculated with the Louis Pasteur Saïgon strain. The suspension is BPL-inactivated, supplemented with a protective agent and lyophilized to a volume of 2 ml. The vaccine loses all specific and non-specific toxicity when injected into newborn mice, adult mice and rabbits. The stability of this vaccine, studied over a period of 24 months at room temperature and 6 months at 37 degrees C, is very satisfactory. The average protective capacity for some twenty batches is 1.60 as determined by the NIH test and 700,000 protective units according to the Habel test. The immunogenicity of this vaccine is evaluated by measuring the neutralizing antibodies in individuals who have been vaccinated for preventive purposes as well as in individuals who have been treated after a possibly contaminating contact. The possibility of reducing the number of injections to 7 + 3 boosters rather than 14 + 2 boosters is discussed in the light of the results obtained.