Rabies is a viral disease that infects both wild and domestic animals, such as bats, dogs, skunks and raccoons. The virus is transmitted through saliva, and is commonly contracted through bites and scratches. When symptoms develop, it may become fatal. There are two types of rabies vaccinations: nerve tissue and HDCV.
Nerve Tissue Vaccine
Nerve tissue vaccine is given in a series of intramuscular injections, usually in the deltoid muscle of the arm. Nerve tissue vaccines are made from inactive virus cultivated in sheep's or goat's brain.
HDCV
Human diploid cell vaccines (HDCV) also consist of inactive virus material, but are harvested from human diploid cells. These vaccines are by far the most commonly used in North America and Europe.
Pros and Cons
Nerve tissue vaccines are the more primitive of the two types. They have a lower efficacy rate, more side effects and must be administered more frequently. However, they are much cheaper to administer than HDVC, and therefore are more practical in developing nations with high rates of rabies exposure.
Uses for Post-Exposure
Rabies vaccinations may be used to prevent rabies infection from future exposure and to prevent the development of symptoms after infection. Infected persons must first take a dose of rabies immune globulin, which is a blood product for immediate immunal protection, followed by a series of vaccination shots.
DNA Vaccines
Scientists are developing DNA vaccines, which use only DNA strands rather than including additional carrier viruses or proteins. These vaccinations have proven highly effective and inexpensive during animal tests, but a human vaccine is not yet available.
Tags: inactive virus, Nerve tissue, Nerve tissue vaccines, tissue vaccines