Purified Chick Embryo Cell Culture Rabies Vaccine: interchangeability with Human Diploid Cell Culture Rabies Vaccine and comparison of one versus two-dose post-exposure booster regimen for previously immunized persons

The equivalence and interchangeability of Purified Chick Embryo Cell Culture Rabies Vaccine (PCECV) to Human Diploid Cell Culture Rabies Vaccine (HDCV) and the immunogenicity of a reduced post-exposure regimen with PCECV was investigated. Statistical analyses revealed no difference (P less than or equal to 0.05) between the geometric mean titers (GMT) on day 49 of subjects that received PCECV or HDCV. In Year 2, subjects were boosted with one or two dose(s) of PCECV. No significant difference (P less than or equal to 0.05) was detected between the GMT of the two groups on days 7 and 365 post-booster. Subjects that received HDCV initially developed an adequate anamnestic response to PCECV. On day 21 post-booster, the GMT of subjects that received two boosters was higher (151.6 IU/ml) than those that received one booster (120.9 IU/ml). However, this difference may not be clinically significant. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.