Vol. 10, Special Issue 9 (2025)

Vaccination of dogs against rabies is considered as fundamental for National rabies control programmes since the dog is the main reservoir and transmitter of the disease in India, where more than 20000 human deaths are reported only due to rabies. Though rabid bites cases are reported mostly in human beings, there are considerable rabid bite cases reported amongst dogs especially between stray and/or community owned and pet dogs, which results in dissemination of rabies pathogen from infected to other susceptible animals. By considering this threatening fact, the study was designed to elucidate the frequency and magnitude of rabies virus neutralization antibody (RVNA) in post-exposure prophylaxis. Each group comprises of 18 healthy dogs which were vaccinated with inactivated anti-rabies vaccine and blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90 and the serum neutralizing rabies antibody titres were assessed by Rapid fluorescent antibody test (RFFIT). All dogs which received post exposure prophylaxis were observed for 120 days post immunization and none of the animals showed any pathognomonic clinical signs of rabies during the observation period. PEP vaccination of dogs followed with Essen regime (0, 3,7,14 and 28 day) was found to be protective in all vaccinated animals.