Studies on the Rabies Vaccine

XIV The effects of purified vaccine lymph and cortisone on the immunizing power of rabies vaccine

Abstract

The effects of PVL and cortisone on the immunizing power of rabies vaccine were examined using mice and rabbits. The results were as follows.
1) Group A which had received rabies vaccine together with PVL 3 times withstood 8 times as great a MLD (minimum lethal dosis) as that of group B given 6 times the rabies vaccine alone.
2) On the contrary, group C (3 times rabies vaccine with cortisone) demonstrated 1/1000 MLD of group A. Likewise, group D (3 times rabies vaccine and then 3 times cortisone) showed 1/52.
3) With rabbits also, a rapid formation of neutralizing antibodies was observed by the combined vaccination with PVL. i. e., the group of combined vaccination with PVL showed 4 times as great a neutralisation value in 10 days and 2 times in 21 days as that of the group with the rabies vaccine alone.
4) The group which had received 4 mg/kg cortisone of body weight together with the rabies vaccine in successive days showed a low neutralisation value, 1/10 of the group of combined vaccination with PVL and 1) 3 of the group with the rabies vaccine alone in 10 days and 1/6 of the former and 1/2 of the latter group respectively in 21 days.
5) Cortisone increased the susceptibility of mice to rabies virus and reduced the body weight of rabbits.