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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1972 January; 23(1): 104-107
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mouse Potency Assay for Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Vaccines

^a Department of Biologics Research, Division of Communicable Diseases and Immunology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D. C. 20012

ABSTRACT

A potency assay for Western equine encephalomyelitis vaccine was developed which utilized mice as the test animal instead of guinea pigs or hamsters. By immunizing several groups of mice with dilutions of the vaccine and challenging them intracerebrally with virulent virus, it was possible to determine mathematically a dose of vaccine capable of protecting 50% of the animals (ED₅₀). When log dilutions of virulent virus were used to challenge mice which were immunized with dilutions of the vaccine, there was no difference among the ED₅₀ values for the dilutions of challenge virus. In a direct comparison of ED₅₀ values determined from the immunization of mice and those determined from the immunization of guinea pigs, there were no differences in the rankings of the vaccines.

¹ Present address: Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Md. 21701.