Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University

Abstract

Aiming to raise the levels of immunity induced in dogs by the cell culture inactivated rabies vaccine, bee venom BV was subjected to investigate its immune stimulant effect in vaccinated dogs. It was found that a dose of 1mg of BV/ dog did not cause any post inoculation reaction showing its safety. Mutual vaccination of dogs with BV inoculation was carried out in different groups of susceptible dogs of about 3-5 months' age. Monitoring of the exhibited rabies antibodies in vaccinated dogs using serum neutralization test (SNT) and indirect Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) revealed that BV induced the highest levels of antibodies (128 by SNT and 7 log2 and 6 log2 by ELISA) when inoculated before and simultaneously with rabies vaccine. Rabies vaccine alone or before inoculation of BV induced lower titers of antibodies (32&64 and 5 & 6log2 by SNT and ELISA respectively) by the 4 th week post vaccination. However, BV could be used to initiate the immune response of dogs to rabies vaccine.