LONG-TERM HUMORAL AND CELLULAR-IMMUNITY AFTER VACCINATION WITH CELL-CULTURE RABIES VACCINES IN MAN

To determine the duration of anti-rabies immunity, peripheral blood of 18 vaccinees was obtained between 2 and 14 years after immunization. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBR4C) and serum were tested for the presence of either rabies virus-specific antibodies or rabies antigen-specific proliferation. Neutralizing immunoglobulin class G anti-rabies virus antibodies could be detected in sera of all vaccinees, but not in 18 age- and sex-matched controls. Rabies antigen-induced proliferation of PBMCs from vaccinees was significantly higher than that of controls. The antirabies T and B cell response showed no time-dependent pattern. These results suggest the induction of a long-term immunity after rabies immunization according to pre- and postexposure schedules with inactivated cell culture vaccines against rabies. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.