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FAQ’s of Vaccines

mom — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:40:50 +0000

FAQs VACCINE ISSUES
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet/Hemolife
www.hemopet.org

Q. Is there risk of overvaccinating with vaccines not needed for a specific animal ?
A. Yes. Vaccines contain material designed to challenge the immune system of the pet, and so can cause adverse reactions. They should not be given needlessly, and should be tailered to the pet’s individual needs.

Q. Are the initial series of puppy core vaccines immunosuppressive ?
A. Yes. This period of immuno suppression from MLV canine distemper and hepatitis vaccines coincides with the time of vaccine-induced viremia, from days 3 to 10 after vaccination.

Q. Can smaller doses of vaccines be given to toy dog breeds ?
A. Yes, they can, although some vaccinologists believe that the whole amount should be given because it represents the minimum immunizing dose. My view is that a half dose of vaccines, other than rabies, as required by law, should suffice and would be safer.

Q. Can anesthetized patients be vaccinated ?
A. This is not preferred, because a hypersensitivity reaction with vomiting and aspiration could occur and anesthetic agents can be immunomodulating.

Q. Is it safe to vaccinate pregnant pets ?
A. Absolutely not.

Q. Should pets with immunosuppressive diseases such as cancer or autoimmune diseases, or adverse vaccine reactions/ hypersensitibvity receive booster vaccinations ?
A. No. Vaccination with MLV products should be avoided as the vaccine virus may cause disease; vaccination with killed products may aggravate the immune-mediated disease or be ineffective. For rabies boosters that are due, local authorities may accept titers instead.

Q. If an animal receives immunosuppressive therapy, how long afterwards can the pet safely be vaccinated ?
A. Wait at least 2 weeks.

Q. Should vaccines be given more often that 2 weeks apart even if a different vaccine is being given ?
A. No. The safest and most effective interval is 3-4 weeks apart.

Q. At what age should the last vaccine dose be given in the puppy and kitten series ?
A. The last dose of vaccine should be given between 14-16 weeks. Rabies vaccine should preferably be given separately as late as possible under the law (e.g. 20-24 weeks).

Q. Can intranasal Bordetella vaccine be given parenterally ?
A. No. The vaccine can cause a severe local reaction and may even kill the pet.

Q. Will a killed parenteral Bordetella vaccine given intranasally produce immunity ?
A. No.

Q. Can MLV parenteral vaccines for cats be used intranasally ?
A. Never. Any mucosal (e.g. conjunctival and nasal) contact with these vaccines can cause disease.

Q. Are homeopathic nosodes capable of immunizing pets ?
A. No. There is no scientific documentation that nosodes protect against infectious diseases of pets. The one parvovirus nosode trial conducted years ago did not protect against challenge.

Q. Should disinfectant be used at the vaccine injection site?
A. No. Disinfectants could inactivate a MLV product.

Q. Can vaccines cause autoimmune diseases?
A. Vaccines themselves do not cause these diseases, but they can trigger autoimmune responses followed by disease in genetically predisposed animals, as can any infection, drug, or chemical / toxic exposures etc.

Q. Can a single vaccine dose provide any benefit to the dog or cat? Will it benefit the canine and feline populations?
A. Yes. One dose of a MLV canine or feline core vaccine should provide long term immunity when given to animals at or after 16 weeks of age. Every puppy and kitten 16 weeks of age or older should receive at least one dose of the MLV core vaccines. We need to vaccinate more animals in the population with core vaccines to achieve herd immunity (e.g. 75% or higher, when probably only 50% of dogs and 25% of cats are vaccinated) and thereby prevent epidemic outbreaks.

Q. If an animal receives only the first dose of a vaccine that needs two doses to immunize, will it have immunity ?
A. No. A single dose of a two-dose vaccine like Leptospirosis or feline leukemia vaccine will not provide immunity. The first dose is for priming the immune system. The second for boosting the immunity has to be given within 6 weeks; otherwise the series has to start over again. After those two doses, revaccination with a single dose can be done at any time.

Q. Can maternally derived antibodies (MDA) also block immunity to killed vaccines and prevent active immunization with MLV vaccines ?
A. Yes. MDA can block certain killed vaccines, especially those that require two doses to immunize. With MLV vaccines, two doses are often recommended, particularly in young animals, to be sure one is given beyond the neutralizing period of MDA.

Q. How long after vaccination does an animal develop immunity that will prevent severe disease when the core vaccines are used?
A. This is dependent on the animal, the vaccine, and the disease.
 The fastest immunity is provided by CDV vaccines — MLV and recombinant canarypox virus vectored. The immune response starts within mins – hrs and provides protection within a day without interference from MDA.
 Immunity to CPV-2 and FPV develops after 3-5 days when an effective ML V vaccine is used. In contrast, killed FPV-2 vaccine often takes 2 – 3 wks or longer to provide protective immunity.
 CAV-2 MLV given parenterally provides immunity against CAV-1 in 5 to 7 days.
 Time from vaccination to immunity is difficult to determine for FCV and FHV-1 because some animals will not develop any immunity.

Q. Can dogs and cats be “non-responders” and fail to develop an immune response to vaccines ?
A. Yes. This is a genetic characteristic seen particularly in some breeds or dog families. Boosting them regularly will not produce measurable ciculating immunity, but they may be protected against disease by their cell-mediated and secretory immunity.

Q. Are there parvovirus and distemper virus field mutants that are not adequately protected by current MLV vaccines ?
A. No. All the current CPV-2 and CDV vaccines provide protection from all known viral isolates, when tested experimentally as well as in the field. The current CPV-2 and CPV-2b vaccines provide both short and long term protection from challenge by the CPV-2c variant.

Q. Are serum antibody titres useful in determining vaccine immunity?
A. Yes. They are especially useful for CDV, CPV-2 and CAV-1 in the dog, FPV in the cat, and rabies virus in the cat and dog. Rabies titers, however, are often not acceptable to exempt individual animals from mandated rabies boosters in spite of medical justifcation. Serum antibody titers are of limited or no value for the other vaccines.

* Excerpted from : J Sm An Pract 48, 528–541, 2007.

Canine Influenza Vaccine Found Effective Against Secondary Infections

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:33:46 +0000

Recent research by Ron Schultz, professor and chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, has shown the newly approved Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) vaccine to be effective not only in reducing length, severity and spread of the virus, but also in protecting against secondary infections.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics approved the vaccine on June 9, 2009, after a successful trial year. This is the first influenza vaccine for dogs that protects against H3N8, the influenza strain first seen in horses before mutating in 2004 to become dog-specific. According to surveillance data, CIV has been identified in 33 states in the last year with outbreaks in nine of those states deemed “enzootic,” the animal equivalent of an epidemic.

“It’s a relatively new disease,” Schultz says. “I estimate that greater than 90 percent of the canine population is immunologically naive.” Because most dogs have never been exposed, they have no natural protection against the disease, making the new vaccine a valuable tool.

Another major consideration is that canine influenza, just like the human flu, weakens the dog’s immune system. “The virus will often set up the opportunity for a secondary disease,” Schultz says, explaining that it is common for dogs to have bacteria already in their system when they are infected with CIV. “Alone, those organisms would rarely cause much of a problem,” he adds. “But the combination can be deadly.”

Fortunately, Schultz’s new work – which depended on research using animal models – shows positive results: The CIV vaccine significantly reduced the severity of the disease even with the combination of CIV and a Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus bacterial infection. In future studies, Schultz hopes his lab will be able to show that the same is true of other bacterial infections common to dogs. “We want to demonstrate that the vaccine protects against any co-infections that might occur,” he says.

“The real issue now among the dog owning public is, ‘Do we need to get our dog vaccinated?’” Schultz says.

He recommends the vaccine for dogs at high risk of infection – those that stay in close quarters with other dogs, like at training classes, shows or doggy daycare.

“It’s very much a proximity issue,” he adds. Open-air spaces like dog parks, however, carry a much lower risk.

Because the vaccine is made from a killed form of the virus, it requires two doses spaced two weeks apart and is effective one week after the second dose. This means that pet owners need to think ahead and start vaccinating at least three weeks before they think their dog will face exposure. According to Schultz, this is the major hurdle of the vaccine.

“Where they know the animal has the highest risk, the vaccine can’t work,” says Schultz.

For example, animal shelters taking in new dogs simply can’t wait three weeks for the dog to reach immunity. That’s why Schultz hopes the new vaccine can build immunity of the dog population as a whole.

“Even if you have 20 to 30 percent of dogs vaccinated, that would make a difference,” Schultz says. “It’s a group thing.”

Although this outbreak is milder than originally feared and is responding well to the vaccine, Schultz remains cautious.

“It only takes one of those outbreaks, and then people really start to think,” he says. “It’s not ‘mild’ for the dog that dies.”

Source:
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/194171.php

New canine flu vaccine

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:10:00 +0000

24 Jun 2009
Canine influenza was first identified in the United States in 2004. Since then, CIV has continued to spread and has now been detected in dogs in 30 states and the District of Columbia, according to Dr. Crawford and Edward J. Dubovi, Ph.D., Professor of Virology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, two of the nation’s leading experts on Canine H3N8 who have been tracking the disease since 2004.

Most dogs have no immunity to canine influenza because it is a novel pathogen and, therefore, the infection can spread quickly through animal shelters, adoption groups, pet stores, boarding kennels, veterinary clinics and any location where dogs congregate. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence of transmission of the virus from dogs to people.

According to Terri Wasmoen, Ph.D., an immunologist and senior director of Biological Research for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, dog owners might not realize their pets are sick enough to need medical care until the dogs begin coughing, which occurs several days or more after the dog contracts CIV. The onset of coughing is a sign that the dog is vulnerable to pneumonia. “Preventing a viral infection that can make dogs susceptible to a complex of canine respiratory pathogens, commonly known as kennel cough syndrome, further strengthens the case for vaccination,” she said.

“Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection that has a significant impact on dogs housed in shelters, kennels and communal facilities,” said Cynda Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., University of Florida, Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine. “The availability of a vaccine can help prevent the medical, financial and emotional costs associated with this new virus.”

Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8 has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. The vaccine, made from inactivated virus, is intended as an aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection, a type A, subtype H3N8. It is administered by subcutaneous injection in two doses, two to four weeks apart. It may be given to dogs six weeks of age or older and can be given annually as a component of existing respiratory disease vaccine protocols to ensure more comprehensive protection.

APHIS ISSUES CONDITIONAL LICENSE FOR CANINE INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2009–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced that it has issued a conditional license to Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health for a canine influenza virus (CIV) vaccine.

APHIS, through its Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), granted the conditional license following the acceptance of data supporting product purity, safety and a reasonable expectation of efficacy. The safety data included the results of studies that evaluated the product under normal conditions, including field safety trials of the size and scope required for full licensure.

Dr. Cynda Crawford, a University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine infectious-disease specialist who was instrumental in identifying the virus in racing greyhounds in 2004, is hearing from veterinarians who seek advice.

Crawford says: Unless your dog is regularly in close contact with other dogs, especially if you live in what she calls a “hot zone” (see below) where there’s an outbreak or where there have been multiple past outbreaks — the vaccination probably isn’t necessary. Dogs with weakened health or those travelling to hot zones are special cases that require discussion with a veterinarian.

The vast majority of dogs that contract CIV recover in one to three weeks (though up to 5% die, usually of pneumonia that develops secondary to the flu — generally older dogs, puppies and dogs with already compromised immune systems). And some will develop severe versions of the normal coughing, fever, runny-nose, loss-of-appetite symptoms. Some will require what vets call “supportive” help to keep sufficiently hydrated and fevers in check and sometimes antibiotics to battle pneumonia.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is not recommending vaccinating all dogs. But dogs that receive the Bordetella vaccine, the association says, should be considered strong candidates for flu vaccination because they’ve been determined to be at risk for the much-less-serious kennel cough through regular contact with many dogs, and that puts them at higher risk for CIV.

Hot Zones: some areas which have experienced protracted or repeated outbreaks. Those, which expert Cynda Crawford calls hot zones or hot spots, are:

- South Florida (which is in a quiet phase right now)
- Colorado Springs-Denver-Cheyenne, Wyo., corridor
- Philadelphia to eastern parts of New York and New Jersey

The AVMA says two additional spots Pittsburgh and surrounding environs and the Lexington, Ky., area “may be emerging as endemic” areas, meaning the virus seems to be well-established and showing up in relatively higher numbers.

Sources: Schering-Plough Animal Health, APHIS

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155094.ph
http://www.aphis.usda.gov<

Low Cost rabies screen for veterinarians

admin — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:59:07 +0000

05 Feb 2009
Dyne Immune, LLC announced their new, portable Rabies RAPID™ (Rapid Antibody Portable Immunodetection) Screen, which can detect the presence of rabies in an animal saliva sample within 30 minutes, providing vital information much sooner than traditional testing methods.

The screen allows veterinarians, animal control officers and other professionals to check for rabies in animals that are still alive, eliminating the long wait (10 to 14 days) and hefty price tag associated with typical post-mortem rabies testing.

“This test can reduce the number of animals destroyed and save doctors and animal control organizations from the costs associated with traditional testing,” said Dyne Immune CEO, Dr. V. James DeFranco, MD. “Most importantly, though, it enables them to screen for rabies and get an answer quickly — and that’s essential when it comes to preventing the infection from spreading.”

Rabies RAPID™ Screen detects the virus’ antigen in saliva and indicates a positive result in the low microgram-per-milliliter range. A simple results window in the screening kit indicates within minutes whether an animal is infected with rabies. The test is packaged in a small, lightweight kit that can be used both in the field and in the lab as a primary screening tool.

The technology was put to the test last month when a local New York Humane Society tried out the kit on a newly admitted stray kitten. Rabies RAPID™ Screen indicated the kitten may have been positive for rabies antigen, and was immediately quarantined. In the meantime, the entire Animal Control staff was alerted to protect themselves and other animals from possible exposure.

Veterinarians, animal control workers and wildlife professionals play a key role in protecting people and their pets from rabid animals. Their work places them at an increased risk for rabies exposure. Pre- and post-exposure rabies vaccines are available, but rabies’ relatively long incubation period means that animals and people may unknowingly come into contact with an infected animal. Confirming the presence or absence of the virus quickly could speed the time taken to receive post-exposure vaccination. It could also help animal care workers limit their exposure, and help protect uninfected animals by determining which animals pose a danger.

There is no cure for rabies. Without post-exposure vaccination, the disease is almost always fatal in both animals and humans.

In 2008, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reported that cases of rabies in the United States had increased by 4.6% the previous year. Approximately 40,000 Americans are treated for potential exposure each year, usually from bats, raccoons, squirrels and occasionally, cats and dogs.

According to the World Health Organization rabies kills approximately 55,000 people every year around the world.

About Dyne Immune LLC

Dyne Immune is dedicated to the development of technology for the detection and prevention of infectious disease. The company specializes in making the latest in antibody/antigen technology available in affordable, portable and practical tool kits that can make a real and timely difference in the lives of animal welfare workers, human health care professionals and those they serve. Visit http://www.dyneimmune.com to learn more.

Dyne Immune LLC

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/137890.php<

wintertime rabies bait drop

mom — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:16:19 +0000

Texas DSHS To Resume Annual Wintertime Rabies Bait Drop Jan. 7

04 Jan 2009
The Texas Department of State Health Services’ annual airdrop of vaccine baits, credited with turning the tide against the spread of rabies strains carried by coyotes and gray foxes, will begin next week. Some 2.9 million baits will be dropped over parts of 41 Texas counties.

“The purpose has been to create and maintain zones of vaccinated coyotes in South Texas and gray foxes in West-Central Texas to prevent the spread of rabies to other animals and humans and to eventually eliminate canine and gray fox rabies in Texas,” said DSHS veterinarian Ernest Oertli, director of the department’s Oral Rabies Vaccination Program.

“No human cases of rabies in either area have occurred since the airdrops began,” he said.

Flights of five specially equipped airplanes will be from four airports. Scheduled start dates and locations are:

– Jan. 7, Zapata County Airport near Zapata and Kimble County Airport in Junction
– Jan. 12, Pecos Municipal Airport and
– Jan. 19, Del Rio International Airport.

The number of animal cases of canine rabies in South Texas has declined from a high of 142 animal cases when the program began in 1995 to none through October 2008. Gray fox cases are down overall from an all-time high of 265 cases in 1994 to 11 reported through October 2008.

The specialized baits for coyotes are made of fish meal. The vanilla-flavored bait for gray foxes is made of dog-food and molasses. Encased in each bait are 2 milliliters of oral rabies vaccine. “The vaccine cannot cause rabies in people or animals,” Oertli said.

Because baits contain a biological agent and are less likely to be eaten by wildlife if people touch them, baits should not be handled. The brown baits, measuring 1¼ by 1¼ by ¾ inches, are marked with a DSHS toll-free number, 1-877-722-6725, people may call for information.

“Getting pets vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian as required by law is still essential to preventing the spread of rabies,” Oertli said. He added that a domestic animal’s rabies vaccination can be safely given even if the animal recently ate an oral rabies vaccine bait.

Note — The 11 counties in the 2009 South Texas vaccine distribution area are: Cameron, Dimmit, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata and Zavala.

– The 30 counties in the 2009 West-Central Texas vaccine distribution area are: Concho, Crane, Culberson, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Loving, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Regan, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler.

Texas Dept. of State Health Services
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134326.php<

New strain of canine parvo virus

mom — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:10:23 +0000

A team of Oklahoma State University (OSU) veterinarians, virologists and pathologists at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) recently published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology on their findings from a Canine parvovirus (CPV) study. Led by Dr. Sanjay Kapil, the group is the first to describe the CPV type 2c variant in the United States.

http://www.cvhs.okstate.edu/

This parvo virus variant was discovered 6 years ago in Italy, but was not of great concern until it was discovered here.

“According to Kapil, the disease presentation is different in that normally parvovirus does not affect adult dogs only puppies…

“Veterinarians are confused because the in office diagnostic tests come up negative,” explains Kapil. “Clinically it looks like parvovirus so they send it to us. The OADDL tests it and it is parvovirus. Now world-wide (except for Australia), this particular variant can attack the heart and intestines.”
Of 80 cases tested by the OADDL, 26 were from Oklahoma puppies/dogs. Of those 26, 15 tested positive for CPV-2c. For more information on the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, visit http://www.cvhs.okstate.edu.”

Vaccines schedule

mom — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:58 +0000

New Vaccination Schedules
2006 AAHA Canine Recommended Vaccination Schedules

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Canine Parvovirus ( CPV-2) (MLV)*	Give at 6-8 wks of age then every 3-4 wks until 12-14 wks of age.	booster at 1 yr	booster at .3-7 yrs
Canine Distemper (CDV)(MLV) or r-Canine Distemper (rCDV) preferred	Give at 6-8 wks of age then every 3-4 wks until 12-14 wks of age.	booster at 1 yr	booster at .3-7 yrs
Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)(MLV)**	Give at 6-8 wks of age then every 3-4 wks until 12-14 wks of age.	booster at 1 yr	booster at .3-7 yrs
Rabies (killed)	one dose @ 3months age	booster at 1 yr	booster at ...3 yrs

Adult dog vaccination schedule

for dogs acquired at over 16 wks.

Canine Parvovirus ( CPV-2) (MLV)*	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart.	booster at 1 yr.	booster at 3 yrs.
Canine Distemper (CDV)(MLV) or r-Canine Distemper (rCDV) preferred	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart.	booster at 1 yr.	booster at 3 yrs.
Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)(MLV)**	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart.	booster at 1 yr.	booster at 3 yrs.
Rabies (killed)	1 dose	booster at 1 yr.	booster at 3 yrs.

*It is important to use a modified live virus (MLV) or the r- (recombinant) virus if possible, to decrease the risk of injection site fibrosarcoma, a rare but complicating reaction.

For a discussion of the canine immune system and vaccination interaction see http://www.labbies.com/immun.htm<

Adverse reactions; disclosure

mom — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:06:56 +0000

For a listing of adverse reactions to vaccines and drugs; and the canine class action lawsuit see:
http://www.dogsadversereactions.com

For Dr. Dodds letter in support of requiring Veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure form.

HEMOPET
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
938 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-828-4804; Fax 310-828-8251

February 17, 2005

Representative Peter Rines
334 Bradford Road Re: LD 429 — An Act to Require Veterinarians Wiscasset, ME 04578 to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms

Dear Representative Rines:

I am writing in support of LD 429, An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms. I do so as a veterinary research/clinician scientist, who has been actively involved in vaccination issues for more than 40 years.

Background

While vaccines have significantly reduced the incidence of serious infectious diseases over the years, increasing evidence implicates vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders. The duration of immunity from vaccination is now accepted to be at least 5 or more years for the clinically important diseases of dogs and cats. Accordingly, new vaccine protocols are recommended: 1) giving the puppy or kitten vaccine series followed by a booster at one year of age; 2) administering further boosters in a combination vaccine every three years or as split components alternating every other year until; 3) the pet reaches geriatric age, when booster vaccination is often unnecessary and may be inadvisable. In the years between or instead of boosters, serum vaccine antibody titers can be measured to determine the adequacy of immune memory.

Vaccine antibody titer testing measures antibodies to certain diseases to determine whether an animal’s immune system has responded to previous vaccinations. This blood test helps determine whether or not an animal will be protected from the infectious disease if he/she were to be exposed. Titers do not distinguish between immunity generated by vaccination and/or exposure to the disease, although the magnitude of immunity produced just by vaccination is usually lower. Reliable serologic vaccine titering is available from several university and commercial laboratories and the cost is reasonable. If a given animal’s humoral immune response has fallen below levels of adequate immune memory, an appropriate vaccine booster can be administered.

Duration of immunity (DOI) from challenge studies
Cats
Challenge studies in the cat from Cornell University following just two doses of trivalent killed vaccine given at 8 and 12 weeks of age, showed complete protection from feline panleukopenia virus for more than 8 years, and good protection against feline calicivirus and herpes virus for 4 and 3 years, respectively. Colorado State University recently reported long term vaccinal immunity in a large number of pet and laboratory cats.

Dogs
The 2003 report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force indicated that the DOI following challenge studies in dogs was equal to or greater than 7 years for the three canine “core” vaccines against distemper virus (CDV), parvovirus (CPV-2) and adenovirus (hepatitis, CAV-1).
Representative Peter Rines (cont’d) February 17, 2005

Challenge of immunity studies have shown that the minimum DOI of modified live virus (MLV) CDV vaccines are 7 and 5 years for the Rockborn and Onderstepoort strains of CDV, respectively. Challenge of immunity studies for CPV-2 vaccines have shown the minimum DOI with MLV CPV-2 vaccines to be 7 years. Challenge of immunity studies for CAV-1 have shown the minimum DOI with modified live CAV-2 vaccines to be 7 years. Based on serologic data for sterilizing immunity, the minimum DOI for CDV is 12-15 and 9 years, respectively, for the Rockborn and Onderstepoort strains of CDV; up to 10 years for CPV-2; and at least 9 years for CAV-1.

In 2002, the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents (COBTA) published a landmark report on cat and dog vaccines. Some key features of that report were: “vaccination is a potent medical procedure associated with benefits and risks for animals; considerations of exposure probability, susceptibility, severity of the disease, efficacy and safety of the vaccine, potential public health concerns, and owners preferences are appropriate; individual animals will require different vaccines and vaccination programs; revaccination recommendations should be designed to create and maintain clinically relevant immunity, while minimizing adverse event potential; the practice of revaccinating animals annually is largely based on historic precedent supported by minimal scientific data; unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance and may expose animals to unnecessary risks; veterinarians should consider creating a core vaccination program for most of the animals in their practice area; core vaccines are defined as vaccines appropriate to provide protection in most animals against diseases that pose a risk of severe disease because the pathogens are virulent, highly infectious, and widely distributed in the region; current adverse event reporting systems need substantial improvement in the capture, analysis, and dissemination of information; practitioner commitment to reporting adverse events and practitioner access to timely analyses of adverse event data are essential to providing optimal animal care.”

In 2004, the following statement was endorsed by all 23 members of the ACVIM Infectious Disease Study Group and approved by the ACVIM Board: “The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine believes that all dogs should have a routine health examination by a veterinarian at least yearly. At that time, vaccination needs should be determined and only those antigens deemed necessary should be administered. We currently endorse the use of the AAHA [American Animal Hospital Association] 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines as an aid in determining the vaccination needs of individual dogs.“

Finally, because of the potential legal liability for all medical procedures including vaccination, veterinarians need to obtain informed consent from their clients. This means that clients need to be given information about the benefits and risks of vaccination in order to permit them to make an appropriate decision about the individual vaccine to be selected and the vaccination programs of choice. Thus, obtaining informed consent and the client’s signature on a consent form or patient chart is an important aspect of following the legal standards of duty to inform ”what any reasonable, prudent person would want to know about the subject”.

I hope that this brief summary of a complex issue will be helpful.

Sincerely,

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
President

enclosure: brief personal résumé

Representative Peter Rines (cont’d) February 17, 2005

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Schultz RD, Ford RB, Olsen J, Scott F. Titer testing and vaccination: a new look at traditional practices. Vet Med, 97: 1-13, 2002 (insert).
Scott FW, Geissinger CM. Long-term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine. Am J Vet Res 60: 652-658, 1999.
Scott-Moncrieff JC, Azcona-Olivera J, Glickman NW, et al. Evaluation of antithyroglobulin antibodies after routine vaccination in pet and research dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 221: 515-521, 2002.
Smith CA. Are we vaccinating too much? J Am Vet Med Assoc 207:421-425, 1995.
Tizard I, Ni Y. Use of serologic testing to assess immune status of companion animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 213: 54-60, 1998.
Twark L, Dodds WJ. Clinical application of serum parvovirus and distemper virus antibody titers for determining revaccination strategies in healthy dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 217:1021-1024, 2000.

Hemopet is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Fed ID # 95-4063237

www.Hemopet.com

“Your source for life”

W. JEAN DODDS

RÉSUMÉ

Dr. Dodds received the D.V.M. degree with honors in 1964 from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Toronto. In 1965 she accepted a position with the New York State Health Department in Albany and began comparative studies of animals with inherited and acquired bleeding diseases. Her position there began as a Research Scientist and culminated as Chief, Laboratory of Hematology, Wadsworth Center. In 1980 she also became Executive Director, New York State Council on Human Blood and Transfusion Services. This work continued full-time until 1986 when she moved to Southern California to establish Hemopet, the first nonprofit national blood bank program for animals.

From 1965-1986, she was a member of many national and international committees on hematology, animal models of human disease, veterinary medicine, and laboratory animal science. Dr. Dodds was a grantee of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH) and has over 150 research publications. She was formerly President of the Scientist’s Center for Animal Welfare; and Chairman of the Committee on Veterinary Medical Sciences and Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Academy of Sciences. In 1974 Dr. Dodds was selected as Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year, AVMA Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado; in 1977 received the Region I Award for Outstanding Service to the Veterinary Profession from the American Animal Hospital Association, Cherry Hill, New Jersey; in 1978 and 1990 received the Gaines Fido Award as Dogdom’s Woman of the Year; and the Award of Merit in 1978 in Recognition of Special Contributions to the Veterinary Profession from the American Animal Hospital Association, Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1984 she was awarded the Centennial Medal from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1987 she was elected a distinguished Practitioner of the National Academy of Practice in Veterinary Medicine. In 1994 she was given the Holistic Veterinarian of the Year Award from the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. She is an active member of numerous professional societies.

Today, Dr. Dodds is actively expanding Hemopet’s range of nonprofit services and educational activities. The animal blood bank program provides canine blood components, blood bank supplies, and related services throughout North America. Hemopet’s retired Greyhound blood donors are adopted as pets through the Pet Life-Line arm of the project. On behalf of Hemopet, she consults in clinical pathology nationally and internationally, and regularly travels to teach animal health care professionals, companion animal fanciers, and pet owners on hematology and blood banking, immunology, endocrinology, nutrition and holistic medicine. She was also the Editor of Advances in Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine for Academic Press.

Patents

U.S. Patent 5,196,311 ELISA Test for von Willebrand Factor
U.S. Patent 5,202,264 ELISA Using Multi-Species Antibodies for Detection of von Willebrand Factor in Multiple Species
U.S. Patent 5,486,685 Oven with Food Presence Indicator
U.S. Patent 5,830,709 Detection Method for Homologous Portions of a Class of Substances
U.S. Patent 6,287,254 Animal Health Diagnostics
U.S. Patent 9,419,192 Animal Genetic and Health Profile Database Management
U.S. Patent 9,898,193 Animal Health Care, Well-Being and Nutrition

Immunology vaccines

mom — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:01:02 +0000

http://www.msu.edu/~silvar/vax.htm
THE VACCINE
CONTROVERSY
Susan Thorpe Vargas MS, Ph.D.

One of the most controversial issues in veterinary science today concerns vaccinations. What people are questioning is the frequency of vaccination, some safety vs. efficacy concerns and even whether to vaccinate at all. So when you ask your vet when to bring your animal back for its next shot, be aware there is no one correct answer. How often to vaccinate will depend upon quite a few different factors. Some of these considerations include dog’s environment, its breed, the age at which the first shot was given and the interval between shots. Also important are the kinds of vaccines necessary for the area you live in and what type, e.g., whether a killed, recombinant or a modified live-type vaccine is being used.

The Vaccine Controversy

The first point to consider is the safety issue. Vaccines can be harmful. We vaccinate because the advantages outweigh the risks. Just ask anyone who has seen a beloved pet die of parvo or distemper. But one should question the sense of vaccinating against Lyme disease or leptospirosis in an area where these diseases are not a problem. This is why the dog’s environment is so important. High-risk dogs are those that live in close proximity with each other, as in a shelter or kennel situation, or show dogs constantly exposed to dogs from all over the country. These are the animals that should be getting vaccinated every six months for such diseases as bordetella bronchiseptia (a strain of kennel cough) and parainfluenza. A case might even be made for vaccinating the high-risk dog against corona virus. But there are risks associated with vaccinations and when weighed against the benefits such risks usually are considered acceptable, except when it is your dog that suffers the untoward reaction. For instance some dogs, after being vaccinated with modified live canine distemper vaccine (see types of vaccines) can develop seizures, a lack of coordination and other neurological dysfunctions caused from a rare condition called postvaccinal canine distemper virus encephalitis. Another problem noted with genetically susceptible animals is that it is possible for vaccinations to trigger various autoimmune diseases, including several blood disorders and a rabies vaccine-induced encephalitis. Of particular note in this regard has been the association of autoimmune hemolytic anemia with vaccination in dogs .

Another source of controversy is the recommended frequency of vaccinations. Although yearly boosters are recommended by most vets, for many diseases the yearly booster really is not obligatory. However, a yearly checkup is necessary for the same reasons you would have one yourself. For the low-risk pet, once the initial puppy series is completed, a booster at one year and another at three years should suffice until your dog’s senior years. Unfortunately, no duration of efficacy studies are available yet because minimum duration studies were not required for vaccine licensure until recently. This means there really are no data that tell us how long the immunity lasts in a vaccinated animal, but animal vaccines should compare favorably with the duration of human vaccines. On the other hand, no data supports yearly vaccinations either.

Why Is Breed Important?

If your puppy is a Rottweiler, Greyhound or Doberman, or even a mix of one of these breeds, you should be aware that the normal series of shots for parvovirus may not be enough to produce noticeable antibody titer. It may take multiple shots given over a year’s time before your dog is protected adequately. Why is that, you ask? At this point no one is quite sure. The basis most likely is genetic because it seems more prevalent in certain lines, but some data indicate that upward of 5 percent of Rottweilers are going to be poor responders.

Possible Vaccination Schedule For The Low-Risk Puppy

Ideally the initial vaccination should begin no earlier than 6 weeks of age with a modified live measles/distemper vaccine. Measles? Yes, measles. This is an example of a process called heterotypic immunity. It is possible to induce an immune response to one microorganism by immunizing with another microorganism. Since the measles virus is antigenically related to (the body sees it the same way as) the distemper virus, it is possible to confer temporary protection against distemper while avoiding interference from distemper maternal antibodies.

The second shot should be a modified live parvovirus vaccine given 10 days to two weeks after the first injection. At 10 weeks the first MLV distemper shot may be given by itself; however, a combination parvo and class III recombinant distemper vaccine now is available, so this also is an option. Most practitioners also will recommend the puppy be inoculated against canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), which causes a respiratory tract disease. This vaccine will cross-protect against infectious canine hepatitis as well. In some rare cases, if given jointly with the distemper MLV, it can cause temporary immunosuppression. If you are not using the recombinant distemper alternative, then at 12 weeks another MLV inoculation against parvovirus and at 14 weeks a combined CDV/CAV-2 shot should be given. The use of low passage/high titer vaccines now have made it possible to overcome maternal antibody vaccine inactivation at an earlier age and thus shorten the window of vulnerability to canine parvovirus, but remember greater efficacy means you lose some safety factors.

Most veterinarians will vaccinate every two weeks, although a three- or four- week interval is considered optimal. At four months, those dogs that will be shown or kenneled should have the intranasally administered modified live parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines. At six months a rabies vaccination is required by law. A killed rabies vaccine in the most commonly given and the preferred route is intramuscular.

There is no question that one should vaccinate. Vaccinations protect both the individual dog and the canine population as a whole. What you as a pet health consumer should be aware of is that there are some very real concerns within the veterinary community on the vaccination issues. It is difficult to obtain agreement among academics as to the necessity of certain vaccines, much less the question of yearly vaccinations. You will find just as little consensus among practitioners, but it is you, the owner, who needs to make the final decision.

A Short Course In Immunology

So what is antibody titer? Antibody titer is going to be the new veterinary buzzword. Simply put, when your body is exposed to a foreign protein such as the outer coat of a virus or bacteria, your immune system is able to recognize that this is a foreign body. Why? Because everyone carries on most cells a glycoprotein (a sugar-protein molecule) that identifies his or her cells as unique to himself or herself. These molecules are called the Major Histocompatibility Complex I and II proteins, and why they are important will become clear later in this article. Once an invasive agent is recognized as alien, your body is able to mount a specific immune response that targets that precise foreign protein. This is called the humoral response and involves the making of antibodies. An antibody is another protein whose job is to attach itself to the target molecule so another type of cell, called a macrophage, can eliminate it. However, the body takes quite a while to mount this specific immune response on the first exposure to an antigen, or more correctly an epitope. Epitope is science speak for a fragment of a foreign protein. This immune system learning process is the reason why both you and your puppy get multiple vaccinations during the first initial series. After being exposed once to a particular antigen (which is antibody-generating), some of these cells turn into memory cells with the ability to manufacture antibodies against that specific antigen with a much shorter response time. Once firmly established, immunity against the particular antigen can last a very long time, sometimes for the entire lifetime of the animal.

The humoral response is just one way the immune system defends the body against pathogens. There are the native defense mechanisms such as the complement system, enzymes in the saliva and tears, acids in the stomach and even beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract that can be considered the first line of defense. For our purpose here, with respect to vaccinations, the other most important immune response is known as cell-mediated immunity. This type of immunity is the result of the interaction of several different types of white blood cells and is controlled by a class of cells called T- cells. Some pathogens, such as viruses, have learned to hide from the immune system by inserting themselves into different types of body cells. Once established within the cell the virus can either go dormant or proceed to take over the genetic replication machinery of the host cell. It is possible for the body to recognize those host cells infected by virus because certain changes occur on the affected cell surface that alert the T-cells to the presence of virus. Once aware of the threat, the cytotoxic T-cells either destroy the infected host cell or secrete an array of protein molecules that can eliminate targeted host cells. However, cytotoxic T-cells only will attack virus-infected host cells if they are expressing MHC class I molecules on their surface. A virus-infected cell also will release a glycoprotein called interferon. Not only does interferon have antiviral activity, but its presence induces the production of two other proteins that inhibit viral reproduction.

Current thinking suggests that when vaccination is known to prevent reinfection, it is the humoral system that is regulating protection. However, it appears cell-mediated immunity is the primary regulator of vaccines that prevent clinical expression of disease but do not always prevent reinfection. Hence, the ideal vaccine should elicit both types of immune response.

Types of Vaccines

Killed vs. Modified Live

When designing a vaccine, efficacy and safety are the primary considerations. These two principles appear to be mutually incompatible. In order to offer immunity against disease the vaccine model should mimic the native antigen and yet should not cause pathology, i.e., clinical signs of disease. Killed vaccines, also known as fully attenuated vaccines, until recently have been the safest vaccine option available. They are safer because unlike the modified live vaccines they do not shed virus into the environment nor can they ever revert to virulence. However, in order to maximize their effectiveness, killed vaccines are normally used with adjuvants that can cause their own problems. The immune system is antigen-driven. This means that in order to mount an effective immune response, the body must see the antigen for as long as possible. Once the antigen is eliminated the response is terminated. Many different compounds have been used to enhance the efficacy of killed vaccines, but the rational behind their use is to prolong the antigenic stimulus of the primary immune response.

In comparison, the modified live vaccines are more like the original pathogen in the way they elicit a immune reaction. In general, vaccines that contain the living organisms will produce a stronger and a longer-lasting immunity, but their virulence must be reduced to a safe level. This process is called attenuation. Reducing the virulence of bacteria is accomplished by culturing them under unusual conditions. For example, one can make them dependent on a growth medium that is not available in the living animal so they cannot reproduce. Once introduced into the body these bacteria can elicit the expected immune response, but die off so rapidly they do not cause the disease. When the pathogen is a virus a different strategy is used-cell culture in cells or in a species for which the organism is not normally adapted. After many passages through these foreign cell lines the virus is unable to produce disease when reintroduced into its original host. Another issue associated with the use of MLV is possible contamination with other pathogens. One also should be aware this not just one organism, but a population. Therefore it is conceivable that deleterious mutations might occur. So you can see there are problems associated with both types of vaccines and some choices between safety and efficacy that need to be made.

Recombinant

Great strides have been made in recombinant technology and the future will bring even more advances leading to vaccines that may offer better protection and greater safety. A recombinant is defined as a virus, a bacterium or other microorganism in which the genetic material has been artificially modified. This alteration usually involves deletion of all or part of a gene or the insertion of one or more genes from another organism. So far the United States Department of Agriculture has classified three different types of recombinant vaccines.

The first class is called Subunit Vaccines. It really is not necessary for an animal’s immune system to see the entire infectious organism in order to mount an immune response. Often all that is required is for only a small portion or protein fragment to act as the antigen. An example of a subunit vaccine is one developed by Rhone Meriux scientists (now known as Merial) against Lyme disease. This vaccine is made of purified Outer surface protein

After mapping the genome of the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, it was determined that this protein evoked the greatest antigenic response. Recombinant techniques allow for the isolation of this DNA fragment and its amplified expression. It then is purified and used to manufacture the vaccine. Besides safety, one of the greatest advantages of this type of vaccine is that a simple blood test can distinguish between animals that have been vaccinated and those that are infected naturally.

The second category is recombinant: Gene-Deleted vaccines. These can be considered a type of genetically attenuated modified live vaccine. Those parts of the pathogen that can cause disease are either removed or rendered nonfunctional.

The third type is called Recombinant: Vectored Vaccines. Recombinant techniques are used to isolate and remove the immune-inducing genes from a pathogenic virus. These genes then are inserted into a nonvirulent vector virus. Once innoculated into the host the vector virus produces both its genes and those of the crippled pathogenic virus. This has the potential to be a very effective type of vaccine because both a humoral and a cell-mediated immune response is elicited. Class III vaccines may also allow for alternative methods of vaccination, for instance, an oral mode of administration. They also have the potential for immunization against more than one type of infection. The advances in safety and efficacy made possible by this new technology bode well for the future health of our pets.

Vaccine Failure

It may require one to two weeks or more to develop an effective immune response after a course of vaccination. If the animal is exposed to an infectious agent prior to vaccination or shortly after, the vaccine will not have had time to induce immunity and the animal will develop clinical signs of the disease. This also will occur if the animal was incubating the disease at the time it was vaccinated. In fact, the modified live vaccines can cause something called immunosuppression, so vaccinating an animal that already is sick only will make matters worse. Canine parvovirus, canine distemper and the use of polyvalent vaccines that contain these attenuated viruses have been implicated in inducing immune dysfunction. Other factors that can cause immunosuppression are stresses including pregnancy, malnutrition, concurrent infections, not allowing enough time between scheduled vaccinations and the use of drugs such as prednisone. Another cause of vaccine failure is incorrect administration, including splitting a vial between animals.

However, the most common reason for vaccine failure is thought to be the presence of maternal antibodies. This is a passive immunity gained from the dam’s colostrum during the first 72 hours of nursing. Maternal antibody interferes more with viral vaccines than bacterial vaccines and with the parvovirus vaccines more than any other type of viral vaccine. Unfortunately, the amount of antigen that causes disease is less than that needed to overcome maternal antibodies, so there is a period of vulnerability when the protection afforded by maternal antibodies is not sufficient to prevent disease and the puppy’s immune system is not yet fully functioning. It is very important not only to isolate the puppy from contact with other dogs, but to maintain a strict hygienic regime. A bleach solution diluted 1:10 with water will kill even the parvo virus, but remember to thoroughly rinse with clean water before allowing the puppy to contact a bleached surface. Urine mixed with bleach can cause a chemical reaction and the production of chlorine gas.<

Colorado State Univ. Vaccine Protocol

mom — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:59:42 +0000

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
SMALL ANIMAL VACCINATION PROTOCOL

A recent survey by one of the largest vaccine manufacturers (Pfizer) of small animal vaccination practices found 1,700 different vaccination recommendations for dogs and cats from veterinarians across the United States. In January 1998, the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital will be offering its clients one additional vaccination program (1701). We are making this change after years of concern about the lack of scientific evidence to support the current practice of annual vaccination and the increasing documentation that overvaccinating has been associated with harmful side effects. Of particular note in this regard has been the association of autoimmune hemolytic anemia with vaccination in dogs and vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats– both of which are often fatal. Boosters, the annual revaccination recommendation on the vaccine label is just that — a recommendation, and is not a legal requirement except for rabies. This recommendation could just as well have been every leap year or full moon and is not, in most cases, based on duration of immunity studies. The only commonly used vaccine that requires that duration of immunity studies be carried out before licensure in the United States is rabies. Even with rabies vaccines, the label may be misleading in that a three year duration of immunity product may also be labeled and sold as a one year duration of immunity product.

Based on the concern that annual vaccination of small animals for many infectious agents is probably no longer scientifically justified, and our desire to avoid vaccine-associated adverse events, in January of 1998 we will be recommending a new immunization protocol to our small animal clients called “Program 1701″.

Program 1701 recommends the standard three shot series for puppies (parvovirus, adenovirus 2, parainfluenza, distemper) and kittens (panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus) to include rabies after 12 weeks of age for cats and 16 weeks of age for dogs. Following the initial puppy and kitten immunization series, cats and dogs will be boostered one year later and then every three years thereafter for all the above diseases. Similar small animal vaccination programs to Program 1701 have been recently adopted by the University of Wisconsin, Texas A & M and the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Other available small animal vaccines, which may need more frequent administration, i.e., intranasal parainfluenza, Bordetella, feline leukemia, Lyme, etc., may be recommended for CSU client animals on an “at risk” basis but are not a part of the routine Colorado State University protocol for small animals. Recent studies by Dr. Ron Schultz clearly indicate that not all vaccines perform equally and some vaccine products may not be suitable for such a program.
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