{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T18:30:45Z","timestamp":1780943445988,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763337600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Research Center for GLOBAL and LOCAL Infectious Diseases, Oita University","award":["2022B07"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022B07"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Vaccines"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Japan is a rabies-free country; therefore, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is primarily recommended for travelers to rabies-endemic regions. However, no prior studies in Japan have assessed long-term immunogenicity after PrEP vaccination. Methods: This descriptive study evaluated the long-term persistence of rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies among Japanese adult travelers who had received PrEP. Neutralizing antibody levels were measured using the rabies rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test more than two years post-vaccination. Results: Among 97 participants, 86.6% remained seropositive, with a median interval of 8.5 years since vaccination. Individuals who received three or more doses had significantly higher geometric mean titers than those who received only two doses. A notable proportion of those vaccinated with PCECV-KMB, an older subcutaneous formulation, were seronegative after a long interval. Conclusion: Antibody levels were strongly influenced by the number of vaccine doses, with reduced persistence in those who received only two. If testing confirms sufficient titers, PrEP booster doses may not be needed. However, for individuals with only two doses, older vaccinations, or those given PCECV-KMB, a risk-based assessment is recommended\u2014especially for travelers to rabies-endemic areas.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines13111169","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]],"date-time":"2025-11-17T10:24:58Z","timestamp":1763375098000},"page":"1169","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Long-Term Immunogenicity of Rabies Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Japanese Adult Travelers: Comparison of Dosing Regimens"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0918-610X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shinji","family":"Fukushima","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Travellers\u2019 Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Akira","family":"Nishizono","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan"},{"name":"Research Center for Global and Local Infectious Diseases, Oita University Hospital, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Takehiro","family":"Hashimoto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan"},{"name":"Hospital Infection Control Center, Oita University Hospital, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0481-9959","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Atsuo","family":"Hamada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Travellers\u2019 Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17091","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2017.91","article-title":"Rabies","volume":"3","author":"Fooks","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat. 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