Original Paper Vet. Med. – Czech, 47, 2002 (8): 218–221 218 Detection and quantifcation of rabies antibodies is intended in the frst place for checking the im- munity to rabies or efectiveness of rabies vaccines. Detection and quantifcation of virus neutralisation rabies antibodies in the serum is based on inhibi- tion of rabies infection in vivo in animals or in vitro in cell cultures (Atanasiu, 1973; Bourhy and Sureau, 1991). Several suitable procedures have been recommended for determination of titres of virus neutralisation antibodies. e methods most frequently used for quantifcation of immune response in vaccinated animals after rabies vaccina- tion challenge are serum neutralisation methods carried out on mice and in cell cultures (Smith et al., 1996). WHO recommends in vivo virus neutralisation test on mice (VNT) and in vitro rapid fuorescence focus inhibition test (RFFIT). e VNT on mice is time demanding and too ex- pensive for routine use in virological laboratories. Recently it has been replaced by sensitive, less ex- pensive and more rapid in vitro tests. e RFFIT is highly sensitive and advantageous because of its low time demand. e application of the RFFIT for detection and quantifcation of rabies antibodies also requires an OIE standard (WHO, 1992). e FAVN (fuorescent antibody virus neutralisation) test was frst described by Zalan et al. (1979), and later reworked and modifed in the AFSSA labora- tory, Malzéville, Nancy, France. It is simple, rapid, safe and economically sustainable, it allows con- duct of many serological examinations needed to check animals, particularly dogs, exported to other countries but also checking the immune status of vaccinated animals (Cliquet et al., 1998, 2000). MATERIAL AND METHODS Examined sera Eighty-three sera were chosen for comparison of individual methods for rabies antibodies detection from both non-vaccinated (12 sera) and vaccinated (71 sera) pet dogs. Before examination, they were inactivated by exposure to 56°C for 30 min and stored at –20°C. For comparison of reliability, sensitivity and reproducibility of rabies antibod- ies detection methods, if the sera were taken from vaccinated dogs we selected those that exhibited titres of rabies antibodies lower than 1.0 IU/cm 3 (International Units/cm 3 ), or near the level 0.5 IU per cm 3 , respectively, as detected by the RFFIT. e tests also included titration of reference serum (Copenhagen, Denmark, 30 IU in an ampoule, the dilution of serum containing 0.5 IU/cm 3 antibodies was used for the titration), and the control titration Comparison of the detection and quantifcation of rabies antibodies in canine sera A. ONDREJKOVÁ, J. SÜLI, R. ONDREJKA, Z. BENÍŠEK, R. FRANKA, Š. ŠVRČEK, M. MAĎAR, A. BUGARSKÝ Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice, Slovak Republic ABSTRACT: Rabies antibodies in canine sera were detected and quantifed by methods: virus neutralisation test on mice (VNT), rapid fuorescence focus inhibition test (RFFIT), and fuorescent antibody virus neutralisation (FAVN). e results of rabies antibodies levels in non-vaccinated dogs obtained by all three methods were in cor- relation. e comparison of rabies antibody titres determined in vaccinated dogs using VNT and FAVN methods showed 86.6% correspondence, while those obtained by RFFIT and FAVN methods corresponded in almost 95% of cases. Keywords: rabies antibodies; detection; RFFIT; FAVN test