Proteção imunológica contra raiva em população rural exposta à epidemia em 2005

Abstract

On may of 2005, in the city of Augusto Correa, northeast of the State of Para, an outbreak of human rabies transmitted by vampire bats bites was diagnosed, resulting in 15 confirmed cases. Immediately a wide campaign of rabies vaccination of the population was initiated, pre and post treatment was given to about 3500 people. The objective of this work was to verify the persistence of neutralizing antibodies in samples of the population of Augusto Correa that was vaccinated with vaccine of cellular culture (Verorab) during this rabies outbreak. In the month of June of 2007, were collected 505 samples of inhabitants of four communities of Augusto Correa (Araí, Porto do Campo, Cachoeira e Nova Olinda). The levels of neutralizing antibodies were dosed through the Favoretto’s technique and compared with demographic data, previous history of malaria, new animals aggressions and the treatment received. After two years of the vaccine campaign, the results disclosed the persistence of neutralizing antibodies in adjusted levels on 90.5% of the vaccinated population, that received pre or post-exposure vaccination, even on that who had received incomplete treatment. The levels of neutralizing antibodies had not been reduced in function of variables analyzed.