Determination of immunogenicity following anti-rabies vaccination in elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) of Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka: A proposal

Abstract

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable fatal viral disease, which affects both domestic and wild mammals. The main reservoir species of rabies in Sri Lanka is dogs. Elephants, being mammals, are also susceptible to rabies but, no detailed controlled study has been done concerning anti-rabies immunogenicity. This research project focuses on determining the pattern of immunogenicity in both routinely vaccinated and zero-positive Sri Lankan elephants following anti-rabies vaccination (ARV). 30 easily accessible elephants from the Pinnawala elephant orphanage will be used as the routinely vaccinated group of elephants. This group of elephants will be randomly allocated into two groups (n=15 elephants each) a year after the initial anti-rabies vaccination. Two previously unvaccinated calves will be selected as the zero-positive control group of the study, and they will be allocated into two groups (A, B). All elephants will be immunized using 1ml of ARV while elephants in zero positive control group B will be immunized using 2ml of ARV as the first dose. A blood sample will be collected before vaccination in all elephants. Post-vaccination blood samples will be collected on planned dates from the different study groups. Sample analysis of the study will be done by FAVN test and ELISA.