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Federoff, N.E. (2001). Antibody response to rabies vaccination in captive and free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 32(1):127-129.
Fourteen captive and five free-ranging Minnesota gray wolves (Canis lupus) were tested for the presence of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) after vaccination with a canine inactivated rabies vaccine. Blood was collected from all wolves prior to vaccination, 1 mon post-vaccination (PV), and from all captive and three wild wolves 3 mon PV. In addition, one free-ranging wolf was sampled at 4 mon PV, and two free-ranging wolves were sampled at 6 mon PV. All wolves were seronegative prior to vaccination. RVNA was detected in 14 (100%) captive wolves and in 4/5 (80%) free-ranging wolves. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of the captive wolves 1 mon PV was significantly higher (p=0.023) than in the free-ranging wolves. 5/13 (38.5%) captive wolves and 0/3 (0%) free-ranging wolves had measurable RVNA 3 mon PV. No measurable RVNA was detected in the serum samples collected from the free-ranging wolves at 4 and 6 mon PV. These results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of free-ranging wolves tested. Further research is needed to properly assess immune function and antibody response to vaccinations in captive wolves in comparison with their free-ranging counterparts.
