Study of the effectiveness of combined rabies-tetanus vaccine as compared to individual vaccines.

Abstract

Purpose: Effective treatment for animal bites is essential, encompassing immediate measures and protocols for rabies and tetanus vaccination. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the administration of individual and combined rabies-tetanus (RT) vaccines in mice as model animals.

Materials and methods: Animal groups were injected with either undiluted Toxovac^® combined with Rabies vaccine^® (RT/Group 1)/Speeda^® (ST/Group 3), 2-fold diluted Toxovac^® with Rabies vaccine^® (RT1/2/Group 2), or purified tetanus toxoid with Speeda^® (Spurf/Group 4). Mice were immunized with either 2 intraperitoneal (IP) doses at one-week interval or one subcutaneous (SC) dose for rabies immunogenicity, and with one SC dose for tetanus immunogenicity. The potency of the vaccines was determined through challenge test, while their immunogenicity was examined by measuring the anti-rabies and anti-tetanus immunoglobulin G response.

Results: All tested vaccines were potent except Spurf; tetanus was not potent. Rabies' immunogenicity for all combinations through both routes of administration showed comparable antibody response & non-significant difference (p≥0.05) at days 14 and 28 compared to single rabies injected by 2 IP doses. Tetanus' immunogenicity in combinations was compared with Toxovac^®. RT depicted higher antibody response on both days 14 and 28. Whereas RT1/2 showed a non-significant difference on both days 14 and 28. Therefore, rabies has a synergistic effect on tetanus in combination.

Conclusion: The immune response to rabies in combination vaccine injected as a single SC dose was as effective as 2 IP doses of single vaccine. Our results highlight the potential of RT combination vaccine via SC as a cost-effective means to provide protective immunity.