This invention, developed by the CDC and collaborators, entails a live, attenuated recombinant rabies virus vaccine that can elicit an effective anti-rabies immune response in animal recipients. Inoculation with a live, attenuated, rabies virus allows for the optimized production of immunity in the absence of pathogenicity. Oral administration of rabies vaccines is often a preferred route of vaccine delivery because it is most effective in wildlife. Unfortunately, availability of an oral vaccine for canines has been a significant hurdle to date.

This vaccine technology could be used for immunization of stray dogs by an oral route. In developing nations, more than 90% of human exposure events and 99% of human deaths due to rabies are caused by rabid dogs. Using this vaccine with a broadly implemented oral vaccination strategy provides a promising opportunity for reducing transmission of rabies between stray dogs and, thereby, increasing protection for people.