Abstract: Raccoon poxvirus, an organism that may be indigenous in nature, is established as a suitable substrate for insertion and expression of nucleotide coding sequence of heterolgous organisms. Two infectious raccoon poxvirus recombinants for expressing rabies virus surface spike glycoprotein (G) were produced by homologous recombination between raccoon poxvirus DNA and chimeric plasmids previously used for production of vaccinia virus recombinants by thymidine kinase insertional inactivation. Raccoons that were fed polyurethane baits loaded with raccoon poxvirus recombinant quickly developed high levels of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies and were protected when challenged with an otherwise lethal dose of raccoon rabies street virus. Dogs developed rabies virus neutralizing antibodies after feeding a vectored raccoon poxvirus recombinant in contrast to feeding a vaccinia: G recombinant that induced no rabies neutralizing antibodies.

Abstract: A vaccine and method of protecting wild carnivores and especially foxes from rabies virus which comprises setting out and orally administering an immunizing dose of an attenuated liquid antirabies vaccine, said vaccine being enclosed in a bite-permeable hydrophobic plastic container or sheath and said container being surrounded by an acceptable meat bait for the carnivore such as cured sausage. An elongated shape for both the container and bait is preferred. Acceptable vaccines for utilization include ERA/BHK-21 and PRI virus and a plastic elongated polyethylene tube is preferred for the container holding the attenuated vaccine. An effective amount of a temperature stabilizer for the vaccine may be added for operating temperatures of 27.degree..sup.+C. and these temperature stabilizers are selected from purified casein hydrolysates.