Laboratory Techniques in Rabies (Paperback, 4th Revised edition)

Provides a comprehensive guide to laboratory techniques for research and diagnosis in rabies, and the production of vaccine and immunoglobulin. Now in its fourth edition, this standard reference work has been substantially revised and expanded following more than two decades of widespread use of the previous edition. The book has six parts. The first provides a general overview of current techniques, including safety precautions, and summarizes the characteristics and molecular biology of the rabies virus. The second and third parts evaluate diagnostic and research techniques, including those involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), cell cultures, monoclonal antibodies and the polymerase chain reaction. The production of rabies vaccines for human and veterinary use is considered in the fourth part, which includes 23 new chapters dealing with vaccines prepared in cell cultures (including continuous cell lines) and recombinant vaccines. Techniques for evaluating the safety and potency of rabies vaccines are then described, including "in vitro "tests for in-process control. The final part covers the production of human and equine antirabies serum and immunoglobulin. Further practical advice is given in the appendices, which describe techniques for the collection and shipment of brain specimens for rabies diagnosis, preparation of rabies conjugates, and calculation of virus titres and antirabies serum, immunoglobulin and vaccine potency.