• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the rabies surveillance in Gangwon-do from 1997 to 2001. Of 185 laboratory submissions for rabies diagnosis, 65(35.1%) cases were determined to be infected with the rabies virus. Annual incidence of animal rabies was 10 cases in 1997, 20 cases in 1998, 16 cases in 1999, 3 cases in 2000, and 16 cases in 2001, respectively. The total number of the reported cases were increased 382% compared with that of the previous period from 1993 to 1996(7 cases). The relative contributions of infected animals in this period were as follows: cattles(24 cases), dogs(26 cases), and raccoons(15 cases). Rabies outbreak in raccoon were steadily expanded. Epidemiologic surveillance showed the rabies outbreaks spreaded to the southern area in Gangwon-do. All rabies cases were showed positive results to rabies tests such as clinical signs, histopathological findings, indirect flourescent antibody test, and mouse inoculation test. Further studies such as genetic and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates should be performed in order to figure out accurate rabies outbreak.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2023

Purpose: Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease with proper pre-exposure anti-rabies vaccination (ARV). Dogs, as household pets and strays, are the reservoir and vector of the disease, and dog bites have been associated with human rabies cases in Sri Lanka over the past few years. However, other susceptible species having frequent contact with humans may be a source of infection. One such species is sheep and immunity following ARV has never been tested in sheep reared in Sri Lanka. Materials and Methods: We have tested serum samples from sheep reared in the Animal Centre, Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka for the presence of anti-rabies antibodies following ARV. Sheep serum samples were tested with Bio-Pro Rabies enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody kits used for the first time in Sri Lanka and our results were verified by a seroneutralization method on cells (fluorescent antibody virus neutralization, FAVN test) currently recommended by World Organization for Animal Health and World Health Organization. Results: Sheep received annual ARV and maintained high neutralizing antibody titers in their serum. No maternal antibodies were detected in lamb around 6 months of age. Agreement between the ELISA and FAVN test, i.e., coefficient concordance was 83.87%. Conclusion: Annual vaccination in sheep has an effect on maintaining adequate protection against rabies by measurements of anti-rabies antibody response. Lambs need to be vaccinated earlier than 6 months of age to achieve protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in their serum. Introducing this ELISA in Sri Lanka will be a good opportunity to determine the level of anti-rabies antibodies in animal serum samples.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.255-261
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• 1993

For a immunohistochemical diagnosis of the frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues against rabies virus, mice were intracerebrally inoculated with challege virus standard(CVS) rabies virus and then were used to detect the rabies viral antigen by the immunoperoxidase(IP) and the avidin-biotin complex(ABC) method. In this study, the results confirmed that ABC and IP methods, although the former showed more specific and sensitive than the latter, were reliable and effective for the demonstration of rabies virus in both frozen and paraffin-embedded brain tissues prepared from rabies-infected mice. Additionally, IP technique using the monoclonal antibody against rabies virus could be recommended as a standard diagnostic tool instead of the present immunofluorescent method for the local veterinary services in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2011

Rabies virus is transmitted most commonly through a bite from an infected dog. Especially, stray dogs that are not excluded from contact with rabid wild animals can become rabies vectors. Therefore, serological survey of rabies virus from stray dogs in Seoul Metropolitan City was carried out in this study. To investigate prevalence of rabies antibodies in the stray dogs, serum samples were taken from 500 stray dogs between April and December 2010. Antibodies to rabies virus were detected by indirect ELISA. Of 500 tested sera, 147 (29.4%) were positive to rabies virus. Prevalence rates of rabies antibodies(PRRA) in northern and southern Han river region of Seoul were 26.4% and 33.2% respectively. PRRA in male and female dogs were 33.6% and 26.1% respectively. PRRA in less than 1 year, 1~2< years, 2~3< years, 3~5< years, 5~10< years and over 10 years old dogs were 12.7%, 21.6%, 26.4%, 36.4%, 32.5% and 46.4%, respectively. These results indicates that antibody seroprevalence to rabies is still not enough to prevent rabies and rabies vaccination is required to enhance the seroprevalence in the dogs. To improve the situation, measures to raise public awareness of rabies and its prevention is needed. Also, reducing stray dogs and keeping companion animals from contact with wild animals are indispensable for the prevention of rabies.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

Recently, the rabies cases have been reported in Paju- and Yangju-gun, Gyeonggj province near Seoul metropolitan area. The Pukhansan national park, nearly located from the cities, is suspected to be a high risk area for incidence and spread of the rabies to metropolitan area. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence rate for rabies antibody of dogs near the Pukhansan national park and in some other districts in Seoul metropolitan city. From march to october 2001, a total of 306 serum samples were taken from dogs for breeding(189) md pet dogs(117) in 4 districts near the Pukhansan national park and other districts of Seoul. Rabies virus antibodies in sera were detected by neutralizing peroxidase - linked as say (NPLA). Of the 306 sera of dogs tested, 74 (24.2%) were positive to rabies virus antibody. The prevalence rates of rabies antibody in Pukhansan national park area and in the other districts of Seoul city were 23.7% and 25.3%, respectively There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate between these two districts. The prevalence rates of rabies antibody in pet dogs and dogs for breeding were 40.2% and 14.3% respectively. The prevalence rates of rabies antibodies in less than 1 year, 1∼<2 years, 2∼<3 years, and over 3 years old dogs were 14.5%, 22.4%, 32.6%, and 27.1%, respectively, and overall 24.2% in the dog population. In addition, we found that dogs less than 1 year old had lower antibody prevalence than those over 1 year old. It was concluded that enhancement of vaccination is important in the prevention of the rabies, and that rabies vaccines should not be less supplied than the population of the dog.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2010

Rabies virus which belongs to the genus Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae is known as a highly neurotropic virus and causes fatal encephalitis accompanied by severe neurological symptoms in almost all mammals, including humans. In this study, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against rabies virus were produced, characterized and applications of MAbs as diagnostic reagents were assessed Spleen and inguinal lymph node cells from Balb/c mouse immunized with purified rabies virus were fused with SP2/O myeloma cells using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hybridoma cells producing rabies virus-specific MAbs were screened by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. A total of ten MAbs were produced against rabies virus. The protein specificity and neutralizing activity of MAbs were determined by Western blot analysis and fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test, respectively. As a result, two MAbs, 5G3 and 6H4 had specificity for nucleoprotein (N protein) and two other MAbs, 5B1 and 5C1 had neutralizing activity for rabies virus. Some MAbs recognized the rabies virus-infected bovine brain stem cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. In conclusion, it was confirmed that MAbs produced in this study were rabies virusspecific and could be used as reliable diagnostic reagents for the detection of rabies virus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.335-343
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• 2004

Although human rabies deaths are rare, the disease remains a public health problem in Korea. Here we report the outbreaks and surveillance of animal rabies in Gangwon-do. Animal rabies infections were identified in 119 animals from 1993 to 2003. The $78\%$ of all rabid animals were domestic species in Gangwon-do. Wild Korean raccoon dog (N. p. koreensis) continued to be the only reported rabid wildlife species. Outbreaks of rabies infections in Korean raccoon dogs are found in broad geographic regions across the northern Gangwon-do. The principal rabies hosts today are probably wild animals in Gangwon-do. The malaise, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation and abnormal behavior of the animals were the important symptoms of the disease. The Encephalitis, infiltration with lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the inclusion bodies (Negri bodies) in neuronal cells were the specific histopathological signs. The results of indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) for animal rabies diagnosis were identical and the technique was useful to diagnose the disease. Preexposure vaccination is recommended for persons in high-risk groups, such as laboratory workers, veterinarians and certain animal handlers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.13.1-13.6
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• 2023

Animals imported from abroad are a cause of rabies outbreaks in many countries. Therefore, rabies serology testing for dogs and cats traveling abroad is an important measure to reduce the incidence of rabies. Rabies virus antibodies were measured in sera collected from 2,367 dogs and 894 cats between 2017 and 2021. A serum sample with a value of 0.5 IU/mL or higher was considered a pass. The overall pass rates for rabies virus were 96.4% in dogs and 98.4% in cats. The mean rabies virus neutralization assay titers were higher in cats than in dogs and in female than in male animals. According to age, 6-year-old dogs and 9-year-old cats had the highest virus neutralization assay titers. Of the failure cases, 53.0% (53/100) were dogs or cats less than 1 year old. Although the average failure rates in dogs and cats were low at 3.5% and 1.6%, respectively, the factors influencing failure were age and vaccine manufacturer. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the vaccination interval and timing of blood collection after boosting.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-46
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• 2023

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the immune-enhancing potential of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to Alum against rabies vaccine and the related immunological, physiological, and histopathological effects. Materials and Methods: Alum and AuNPs sole and in combination with rabies vaccine were used at 0.35 mg/mL and 40 nM/mL, respectively. Rats used were categorized into six groups (20/each): control rats, rabies vaccine, aluminum phosphate gel, rabies vaccine adsorbed to Alum, AuNPs, and rabies vaccine adjuvant AuNPs. Results: Liver and kidney functions were in the normal range after AuNPs and Alum adjuvanted vaccine compared to control. Interleukin-6 and interferon-γ levels were significantly increased in groups immunized with Alum and AuNPs adjuvanted vaccine, the peak level was in the case of AuNP adjuvanted vaccine on the 14th day. Ninety days post-vaccination, total immunoglobulin G (IgG) against adjuvanted rabies vaccine showed a significantly elevated antirabies IgG with AuNPs and Alum adsorbed vaccine compared with unadjuvanted one. The total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased post-adjuvanted AuNPs adjuvanted vaccine vaccination than in Alum adsorbed vaccine, while MDA was significantly decreased. The histopathological examination revealed detectable alterations post-AuNPs and Alum adjuvanted vaccine immunization compared with liver and kidney profiles post-administration of unadjuvanted and non-immunized groups, meanwhile, splenic tissue revealed hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles indicating increased immune reactivity. Conclusion: The AuNPs are promising enhancers of the immune response as Alum, and the undesirable effects of AuNPs could be managed by using suitable sizes, shapes, and concentrations.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2018

Rabies causes the highest mortality of all viral diseases in the world unless the victim has been protected either by active immunization or post-exposure immunoprophylaxis. Infected stray dogs, raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats are the demonstrated carriers of most cases of rabies. It is difficult to diagnose a rabid animal in the field unless characteristic clinical signs are evident. However, this study used a commercial fast check kit comprised of immunochromatographic test (ICT) strips (ICTS) to diagnose rabies infection in clinically suspected samples obtained from a wildebeest. A 10-year old male wildebeest (approximate weight, 150 kg) died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari (BSMS) Park, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh with a clinical history of severe excitation and abundant oral secretions. A gross pathological examination revealed no specific lesions indicating any fatal diseases. The entire brain was collected within 6 hours of death, and the brain sample was tested using the ICT strips following the manufacturer's directions. The rabies viral antibody was detected within the brain stem and medulla of the brain tissue of the dead wildebeest.