DURABILITY OF ANTIBODY LEVEL AFTER RABIES IMMUNIZATION AND COMPARISON OF GENE EXPRESSION WITH UNVACCINATED SUBJECTS

Abstract

Immunization before and after exposure remain the most effective way to protect against rabies. A cross-sectional comparison of antibody level durability induced by a full (4-dose) or a 3-dose rabies vaccination was investigated and whether changes occurred in ERK1, ERK2, MEK1, and CXCL10 gene expression post-vaccination. Blood samples of adult subjects who received the full (n = 32) and 3-dose (n = 19) rabies vaccine at Bakırkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey were taken 6-18 months post-vaccination for assay of antibody and expression levels of the above-mentioned genes. Antibody levels in about 10 % of subjects receiving both vaccination regimen decreased below protective level (>0.5 IU/ml) within 12 months post-vaccination, but there were no differences in expression levels of the four test genes in the two vaccinated groups compared to unvaccinated individuals (n = 30). In conclusion, subjects receiving both rabies vaccination regimens should be given a booster shot within one year to maintain an adequate prophylactic immune status.