Post-exposure local treatment of mice infected with rabies with two axonal flow inhibitors, colchicine and vinblastine

Abstract

Post-exposure protection of rabies-infected mice was observed by proximal application of axonal flow inhibitors, particularly vinblastine, to the local nerve(s). These observations indicate that rabies virus is transported by the axonal flow of the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system. Both a fixed virus (CVS) and a street (sylvatic) virus were used. This model in mice could be used to develop an additional post-exposure local treatment of rabies infection in man, by infiltrating local nerves or ganglions with axonal flow inhibitors, with the advantage that it would not interfere with subsequent vaccination as is the case with the administration of hyperimmune serum or immunoglobulin.