Evaluation of the Quality and Efficacy of Nerve Tissue-Derived Rabies Vaccine Produced in Algeria

Hala Hasnaoui (Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), Ibadan, Nigeria)
Tahar Djebbar Khadidja (Département de Microbiologie, Université des Sciences et de Technologie Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Alger , Algerie)
Hadjira Yourmouche (Département de Microbiologie, Université des Sciences et de Technologie Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Alger , Algerie)
Hezekiah Keihinde Adesokan (Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria)

Media Kedokteran Hewan
Vol. 37 No. 3 (2026): Media Kedokteran Hewan

Rabies is one of the most deadly infectious diseases, especially in underserved areas, where it continues to pose a high mortality rate worldwide. Algeria has developed nerve tissue-based rabies vaccines to reduce reliance on imported products. The current study evaluated the immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy of the locally produced vaccine. A total of 175 white mice were used to test survival rate, toxicity, virulence, and microbial contamination. Mice vaccinated with Vac-test achieved a survival rate of 42% (slightly higher than the 40% rate in the reference vaccine). The two vaccines had a similar immunogenicity with a similar level of antigenicity. When used at 1/5 dilution, all the vaccines produced 90% survival rate, but as the dilution was increased, the protection was reduced. Vac-test showed a 0% survival rate when diluted 1/3125, but the reference vaccine showed 10%. The Vac-test passed safety and quality control tests, with no noticeable toxicity. Physicochemical tests confirmed that the vaccine was within specifications in terms of dissolution time and moisture level. These results suggest that locally produced rabies vaccines are a promising alternative to imported vaccines.