Vaccination

Question 1

Widespread vaccination has meant that which diseases are now largely unseen in Australia?

Answer 1

Canine adenovirus and canine distemper virus

Question 2

What vaccines have been implicated in the cause of FISS?

Answer 2

Rabies, FeLV, possibly FIV

Question 3

What is the difference between core, non-core, and not-recommended vaccines?

Answer 3

Core: all cats + dogs should receive (i.e. most beneficial)
Non-core: should be received by animals whose geographical location, lifestyle, or environment places them at risk of contracting specific disease
Not-recommended: insufficient evidence to justify their use

Question 4

What are the core dog vaccines?

Answer 4

Canine distemper virus (CDV)
Canine adenovirus (CAV)
Canine parvovirus (CPV-2)

+ Rabies in endemic areas

Question 5

What are the core cat vaccines?

Answer 5

Feline parvovirus (FPV)
Feline calicivirus (FCV)
Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1)

+ Rabies in endemic areas

Question 6

What are the non-core dog vaccines?

Answer 6

Bordetella bronchiseptica
Canine parainfluenza virus
Leptospirosis
Borrelia (Lyme disease)

Question 7

What are the non-core cat vaccines?

Answer 7

Feline leukaemia (FeLV)
Chlamydia felis
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

Question 8

What are the not-recommended dog vaccines? Why?

Answer 8

Canine coronavirus - disease subclinical/self-limiting
Giardia - ineffective

Question 9

What are the not-recommended cat vaccines?

Answer 9

FIP/Feline coronavirus - will only protect cats who are coronavirus Ab negative - unlikely after 16 weeks of age

Question 10

What are maternally derived antibodies? How do they impact vaccination?

Answer 10

Antibodies from mother passed in colostrum/milk, provide some passive immunity. Will interfere with the efficacy of vaccines until they wane (avg. 10-12 weeks), but as some kittens/puppies will have none, vaccination is recommended to start at 6-8 weeks.

Question 11

A client is really eager to socialise their puppy and has heard about “early finish” vaccines. What will you say?

Answer 11

Inform owner about MDA and their impact on vaccine efficacy + VGG recommends final vaccine at 16 weeks to avoid interference.

Question 12

What is titre testing? What are two clinical applications of it?

Answer 12

Titre testing assesses seroconversion against a particular antigen.
In clinic it can be used to:
- Identify vaccine failure
- Determine levels of antibodies present in a patient when deciding if a vaccine booster is necessary

Question 13

What dog diseases can be titre tested in Aus?

Answer 13

Canine parvovirus + Canine distemper virus

Question 14

How soon after vaccinating can you titre test?

Answer 14

2 weeks

Question 15

What can cause vaccine failure?

Answer 15

MDA
Improper vaccine handling/administration
Poorly immunogenic vaccine
Host factors leading to poor response
Insufficient time to develop immunity prior to exposure

Question 16

What are the vaccination recommendations for adult dogs?

Answer 16

Core vaccines boosted at 12-15 months
3 yearly booster, or as indicated by titre testing

• New recommendation: boost at 6 months instead of 12-15 to capture non-responders

Question 17

How would you protect a dog against tetanus?

Answer 17

No licensed vaccine for dogs.
If at high risk, can use equine tetanus off-label
(In WA seen more than Distemper + Canine infectious hepatitis)

Question 18

What is the recommended kitten regime?

Answer 18

6-8 weeks
12 weeks
16 weeks
Booster at 6 months to capture non-responders