Technical Note: Field study of safety and antibody production further to a combined myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (vhd) vaccination in dwarf rabbits by intradermal route.

Abstract

A study of safety of combined vaccination against myxomatosis and VHD was performed using a duly reconstituted vaccine made of a live homologous myxomatosis component SG33 strain and of an inactivated VHD component in adjuvant AG88 strain. The vaccine was administered intradermally to a representative sample of pet rabbits. A local reaction at the vaccine administration area was frequently observed from 2 to 3 days after vaccination in young animals. These local reactions were less frequently observed in adults. The reaction consisted of a local rash which usually disappeared 2 to 3 days after vaccination (maximum 1 week). The immune response following vaccination was monitored by antibody production against VHD and myxomatosis using, for the VHD vaccine component, an IHA titration method, and, for myxomatosis component, an ELISA titration method. Antibody production after vaccination was observed for both components. Maximum VHD IHA titre (192 ± 130) was obtained in vaccinated animals one month after vaccine administration. Antibodies were still detected in these animals one month later (94 ± 39). Mean titre obtained in unvaccinated controls was equal to 0. Maximum myxomatosis ELISA titre (10518 ± 2417) was obtained two months after vaccine administration. Mean titre obtained at the same time in unvaccinated controls was close to 0 (889 ± 744).