OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2011
Name of disease (or topic) for
which you are a designated OIE
Reference Laboratory:
Address of laboratory:
Tel.:
Rabies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
Poxvirus and Rabies Branch
1600 Clifton Rd., MS G33
Atlanta, GA, 30333
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
+1-404-639-1050 phone
+1-404-639-1564 fax
Fax:
e-mail address:
cyr5@cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/
website:
Name (including Title and
Position) of Head of Laboratory
(Responsible Official):
Charles E. Rupprecht, VMD, MS, PhD
Chief, Rabies Program
Name (including Title and
Position) of OIE Reference
Expert:
Same
Name (including Title and
Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above):
Same
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
1
Rabies
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
1.
2.
Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
Test
For
Specificity
Total
PCR/sequencing
Amplicons
Viral Variants
~2,000
DFA, DRIT
Antigenic Typing
Antigen
Antigenic variants
Viral Genus
Viral variants
~3,000
~ 700
RFFIT
VN Antibody
Type
~4,000
BHK, MNA cell culture
Virus isolation
Broad
~150
Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
Type of reagent
Amount supplied nationally
(including for own use)
Amount supplied to other
countries
PCR Primers
~ 5 ml
~ 10 ml
Immunofluorescent conjugate
~30 ml
~10 ml
Monoclonal antibody
~ 20 litres
~ 2 lifters
Rabies virus
~200 ml
~ 10 ml
Part II: Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3.
International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the
production and testing of vaccines
a)
Establishment and maintenance of a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories
designated for the same pathogen or disease and organisation of regular inter-laboratory
proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results
Our laboratory has organized an inter-laboratory trial for assessment of a direct rapid immunohistochemical
test for rabies virus diagnosis, which includes validation and testing a common protocol developed by CDC
and reagents shared among the OIE rabies reference laboratories. The proposed method has been agreed,
reagents prepared, shipments planned, and preliminary results are expected during 2012. In addition,
discussions have begun on the need for a ring trial related to the comparative testing of so-called point-ofcare linear flow assays (LFA) that claim to provide rapid effective rabies diagnosis, but have not been tested
extensively for sensitivity or specificity.
b)
Organisation of inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE
Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of
results
At their request, our laboratory has organized preliminary proficiency testing in rabies diagnosis with
laboratory staff at InDRE in Mexico.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Rabies
4.
Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
Based on request, our laboratory has prepared and shipped reference rabies seed viruses to China, Egypt, and India
for consideration of rabies vaccine development.
5.
Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
We are comparing internal protocols for standardized molecular diagnosis in comparison to the gold standard DFA
test for rabies diagnosis.
In collaboration with Canadian researchers, we are comparing the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an
experimental human adenovirus-rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine for the oral immunization of wildlife.
Besides work in captivity with raccoons and skunks, a limited field trail began in West Virginia, which will be
compared in collaboration with USDA to the licensed vaccinia-rabies recombinant vaccine used for wildlife rabies
control.
In addition, we are developing an experimental dual immune-contraceptive vaccine which could be used both for
rabies immunization and to provide an aid to animal population management.
6.
Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease
control
Together with USDA, Wildlife Services, we participate with counterparts in Canada and Mexico in the North
American Rabies Management Plan, which seeks to harmonize surveillance, control, and research opportunities at
shared borders in an international, One Health context, and meet at least twice a year in a formal setting to review
progress in collaboration, joint activities, and routine information exchange, as reflected in part during our annual
rabies surveillance report, as detailed in the below publication list.
7.
Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the
pathogen and the disease concerned
In the USA, we adhere to the national CLIA project, which is a system of laboratory validation, quality assurance,
routine comparative testing, and regular staff continuing education regarding laboratory protocols related to the
rabies virus antigen, antibody, and amplicon diagnostic test systems routinely employed in our laboratory.
8.
Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries
We provided consultation to OIE in the scientific organization of the rabies conference in Seoul, South Korea.
9.
Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries
We provided rabies diagnostic training to at least 25 laboratory staff from China, DRC, Georgia, India, Kenya,
Mexico, and Trinidad, all in separate training courses organized either at CDC or in the host country.
We have not yet participated in any formal OIE Twinning agreements, but are very open to such opportunities ad
hoc, as communicated to OIE on several occasions.
10. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries
We provided routine rabies confirmatory diagnostic testing to Canada, Italy, Kenya and Mexico.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
3
Rabies
11. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
None at this time.
12. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
In August 2011, we participated in an incident where over 150 international travelers and lodge employees were
potentially exposed to rabies virus after having contact with a rabid orphaned zebra foal at a safari lodge in Kenya.
An international contact investigation was performed in collaboration with public health officials in Kenya, other
affected countries, and the IHR Office, to ensure timely risk assessment and rabies prophylaxis administration to
affected travelers. The particular lodge did not have direct contact information for all travelers, resulting in
delayed public health interventions, while officials worked with travel booking travel agents from multiple
countries to reach affected persons. No human cases resulted, but scores of people received rabies prophylaxis.
The zebra was confirmed rabid, infected with a rabies virus variant common to dogs in Kenya, in agreement with a
history of bite exposure from a local sick dog at the lodge.
In addition, we provided epidemiological and logistical support in 2 large outbreaks in the Amazon region of
Ecuador and Peru, due to vampire bat rabies. Scores of people died and hundreds received prophylaxis. Long term
prevention and control plans are under discussion to minimize health disparities in these very remote locations.
13. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of
scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)

Presentations at international conferences and meetings
Organized the Rabies in the Americas Conference in San Juan, presented at the OIE Rabies Conference in Seoul
and was the only invited OIE Reference Laboratory representative at the Rabies in Asia Conference in Colombo,
Sri Lanka.

Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
Wu X, Smith TG, Rupprecht CE. From brain passage to cell adaptation: the road of human rabies vaccine
development. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2011 Nov;10(11):1597-608.
National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. Compendium of animal rabies prevention and
control, 2011. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2011 Nov4;60(RR-6):1-17.
Franka R, Rupprecht CE. Treatment of rabies in the 21st century: curing the incurable? Future Microbiol. 2011
Oct;6(10):1135-40.
Recuenco S, Blanton JD, Rupprecht CE. A Spatial Model to Forecast Raccoon Rabies Emergence. Vector Borne
Zoonotic Dis. 2011 Oct 13.
Blanton JD, Palmer D, Dyer J, Rupprecht CE. Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2010. J Am Vet
Med Assoc. 2011 Sep 15;239(6):773-83.
Rodríguez-Romo R, Morales-Buenrostro LE, Lecuona L, Escalante-Santillán N, Velasco-Villa A, Kuzmin I,
Rupprecht CE, De-Leo C, Ramírez J, Alberú J. Immune response after rabies vaccine in a kidney transplant
recipient. Transpl Infect Dis. 2011 Oct;13(5):492-5.
Kuzmin IV, Turmelle AS, Agwanda B, Markotter W, Niezgoda M, Breiman RF, Rupprecht CE. Commerson's
leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros commersoni) is the likely reservoir of Shimoni bat virus. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis.
2011Nov;11(11):1465-70.
Lembo T, Attlan M, Bourhy H, Cleaveland S, Costa P, de Balogh K, Dodet B, Fooks AR, Hiby E, Leanes F,
Meslin FX, Miranda ME, Müller T, Nel LH, Rupprecht CE, Tordo N, Tumpey A, Wandeler A, Briggs DJ.
Renewed global partnerships and redesigned roadmaps for rabies prevention and control. Vet Med
Int.2011;2011:923149.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Rabies
Bai Y, Kosoy M, Recuenco S, Alvarez D, Moran D, Turmelle A, Ellison J, Garcia DL, Estevez A, Lindblade K,
Rupprecht C. Bartonella spp. in Bats, Guatemala. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Jul;17(7):1269-72.
Robertson K, Lumlertdacha B, Franka R, Petersen B, Bhengsri S, Henchaichon S, Peruski LF, Baggett HC,
Maloney SA, Rupprecht CE. Rabies-related knowledge and practices among persons at risk of bat exposures in
Thailand. PLoS Negl Trop Dis.2011 Jun;5(6):e1054.
George DB, Webb CT, Farnsworth ML, O'Shea TJ, Bowen RA, Smith DL, Stanley TR, Ellison LE, Rupprecht
CE. Host and viral ecology determine bat rabies seasonality and maintenance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jun
21;108(25):10208-13.
Smith TG, Wu X, Franka R, Rupprecht CE. Design of future rabies biologics and antiviral drugs. Adv Virus Res.
2011;79:345-63.
Wu X, Franka R, Henderson H, Rupprecht CE. Live attenuated rabies virus co-infected with street rabies virus
protects animals against rabies. Vaccine. 2011 Jun 6;29(25):4195-201.
Hamir AN, Niezgoda M, Rupprecht CE. Recovery from and clearance of rabies virus in a domestic ferret. J Am
Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2011 Mar;50(2):248-51.
Meng S, Sun Y, Wu X, Tang J, Xu G, Lei Y, Wu J, Yan J, Yang X, Rupprecht CE. Evolutionary dynamics of
rabies viruses highlights the importance of China rabies transmission in Asia. Virology. 2011 Feb 20;410(2):4039.

Other communications
We provided multiple personalized ad hoc phone, fax, and email consultations to individuals in multiple OIE
member countries in the Americas (primarily Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, and
Peru), Eurasia (primarily China, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand, and the
UK), and Africa (primarily Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda).
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
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