Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

A serological study in response to people at occupational risk of rabies virus exposure in Nepal

6^th Euro Global Summit and Expo on Vaccines & Vaccination

August 17-19, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Ganesh Raj Pant, Bol Raj Acharya, Arjun Raj Pant, Manish Man Shrestha, Vivek Pant, Nayana Pant and Dwij Raj Bhatta

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

A serological study to know the antibody titer against rabies virus in human beings, who are at occupational risk, was
conducted in Nepal in 2014. A total 44 serum samples were collected out of which 21 samples were collected from medical
professionals (working at Sukraraj Tropical Hospital) and 23 were collected from veterinary professionals (working at Central
Veterinary Hospital, Central Veterinary Laboratory and Rabies Vaccine Production Laboratory) in Kathmandu. Among the
44 samples, 4 were collected from unvaccinated persons. The other 40 peoples’ samples were vaccinated with inactivated
rabies cell-culture vaccine 6 months to 5 years ago. All samples were subjected to the Rabies Fluorescent Focus inhibition
Test (RFFIT) test in Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA. The antibody level of 7 persons was found to be less than the
recommended titer of 0.5 IU/ml. Six medical professionals and one veterinary professional had a low rabies virus neutralizing
antibody titer. The 4 samples collected from unvaccinated persons, and 3 collected from vaccinated persons (7.5%) had a titer
below 0.5 IU/ml. This study shows that medical and veterinary professionals who are responsible to nurse or handle rabies
patients, rabid animals or rabies virus are still at high risk. This underscores the importance of recommendations for regular
serological testing of occupationally exposed individuals and rabies vaccine booster when necessary.

Biography :

Ganesh Raj Pant is a Senior Veterinary Officer and Chief of Rabies Vaccine Production Laboratory in Kathmandu within the Department of Livestock Services,
Government of Nepal. He has been working in Nepal since 1983 and involving in the laboratory diagnosis as well as field investigation of animal diseases. He has
also been involved in the surveillance program of Rinderpest and Avian Influenza in his country. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science from
India and Master’s in Tropical Veterinary Science from UK. He is into the research work and has published 15 research articles in national and international journals.