OBJECTIVE To assess the immunogenicity of thermostable live-attenuated rabies virus (RABV) preserved by vaporization (PBV) and delivered to the duodenal mucosa of a wildlife species targeted for an oral vaccination program. ANIMALS 8 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). PROCEDURES Endoscopy was used to place RABV PBV (n = 3 foxes), alginate-encapsulated RABV PBV (3 foxes), or nonpreserved RABV (2 foxes) vaccine into the duodenum of foxes. Blood samples were collected weekly to monitor the immune response. Saliva samples were collected weekly and tested for virus shedding by use of a conventional reverse-transcriptase PCR assay. Foxes were euthanized 28 days after vaccine administration, and relevant tissues were collected and tested for presence of RABV. RESULTS 2 of 3 foxes that received RABV PBV and 1 of 2 foxes that received nonpreserved RABV seroconverted by day 28. None of the 3 foxes receiving alginate-encapsulated RABV PBV seroconverted. No RABV RNA was detected in saliva at any of the time points, and RABV antigen or RNA was not detected in any of the tissues obtained on day 28. None of the foxes displayed any clinical signs of rabies. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results for this study indicated that a live-attenuated RABV vaccine delivered to the duodenal mucosa can induce an immune response in gray foxes. A safe, potent, thermostable RABV vaccine that could be delivered orally to wildlife or domestic animals would enhance current rabies control and prevention efforts.

Water vapor-saturated air was delivered to 12 healthy housed horses for 2 hours daily for 5 days. Treatment had no effect on tracheal mucus transport rate, bronchoalveolar lavage total and differential cell counts, blood cell counts, or plasma fibrinogen concentration.

Objective-To evaluate the righting reflex after topical application of a sevoflurane jelly in cane toads (Bufo marinus). Animals-8 cane toads. Procedures-Toads were 6 to 8 months of age and weighed (mean +/- SD) 142.0 +/- 25.2 g. Sevoflurane jelly was applied to the dorsum of each toad at a dose of 25 μL/g in trial 1 and 37.5 μL/g in trial 2. Toads were placed in dorsal recumbency every 30 seconds until loss of the righting reflex. Jelly was then removed by rinsing the toads with tap water. Toads were then left undisturbed in dorsal recumbency until return of the righting reflex. Chamber sevoflurane concentration was measured to determine vaporization. Results-6 of 8 toads in trial 1 and 8 of 8 toads in trial 2 lost the righting reflex. Mean +/- SD time to loss of the reflex was 8.2 +/- 1.3 minutes for trial 1 and 8.3 +/- 0.9 minutes for trial 2; this difference was not significant. Mean +/- SD time to return of the reflex was 25.6 +/- 26.2 minutes for trial 1 and 84.4 +/- 47.2 minutes for trial 2; this difference was significant. Chamber sevoflurane concentration did not change significantly, compared with baseline (time 0) concentration, at any time in trial 1; however, there was a significant change in chamber sevoflurane concentration from baseline (time 0) concentration in trial 2. Chamber sevoflurane concentrations were not significantly different between trial 1 and trial 2 at any time. Mean +/- SD chamber sevoflurane concentration was 0.46 +/- 0.2% for trial 1 and 0.57 +/- 0.28% for trial 2. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Sevoflurane jelly applied topically at a dose of 37.5 μL/g induced a more reliable loss of righting reflex and longer recovery time than when applied at a dose of 25 μL/g in cane toads