Vaccination/Imported Diseases Flashcards
Why should we vaccinate pets?
Protection from life-threatening disease
Protection for the individual animal
Protection for the animal population - herd immunity
Human protection from zoonotic disease
What are ‘nosodes’?
Oral homeopathic agents which claim to help prevent disease but have limited scientific basis
What is a vaccine?
A substance that is administered in order to stimulate an immune response and immunological memory in the host, against a particular disease
What does immunity mean?
Protection (from a disease)
What is active immunity?
Immunity which is acquired through vaccination
What is passive immunity?
Immunity acquired through maternally derived antibody (colostrum)
What is an antigen?
A substance which your immune system produces antibodies against - the active component of a vaccine
What is an antibody?
An immunoglobulin (specialised protein) that is part of the specific immune attack against a specific pathogen
What is serology?
A blood test to measure the level of antibodies in the blood (against a specific organism)
Why is serology not always an accurate indicator of infection?
In some diseases, mucosal immunity and cell-mediated immunity are more important (but more difficult to measure)
What is the titre of an antibody?
The level of antibody in the blood (numerical)
What is a ‘live/modified live/live attenuated’ vaccine and what does it contain?
An infectious vaccine - contains modified/attenuated whole organism of the disease you are vaccinating against
How do infectious/live vaccines work?
Circulates, infects and replicates in cells of the body to cause a low-level infection which causes a strong immune response
What is a non-infectious vaccine and what does it contain?
Killed/inactivated vaccine - contains the whole organism but it is killed and inert
Can inactivated vaccines cause infection?
No - requires adjuvants to stimulate an immune response
Which type of vaccine must be administered more regularly? Why?
Inactivated vaccines - stimulate less of an immune response so require boosters more often
Where are most vaccines stored?
Refrigerated 2-8°C, but not necessarily given at that temperature
What routes are used for administering vaccines?
Subcutaneously (common)
Intra-nasally
Intra-muscularly
Orally
What are the core canine vaccinations in the UK?
Distemper - MLV
Hepatitis - MLV
Parvovirus - MLV
Leptospira spp. - inactivated
Why (ideally) should a puppy’s last vaccinations be given no earlier than 16 weeks?
It won’t cause a large enough immune response because levels of maternal antibody may still be too high
When are puppy vaccinations typically given in practice?
6-8 weeks and 10-12 weeks
Why is the timing of the leptospirosis vaccine/booster administration less strict in terms of puppy age?
No concerns about maternal antibodies - not passed very well vertically
What are the 2 types of leptospirosis vaccine?
L2 and L4
What are the 2 subspecies of leptospirosis that are always in the L2 vaccine?
L. icterohaemorrhagiae
L. canicola
How often are adult dogs given vaccinations/boosters?
First annual vaccination at 12 months
CDV/CAV-2/CPV-2 given every 3 years
Leptospirosis given annually
What are some of the non-core vaccinations for dogs?
Kennel cough (intranasal) Canine parainfluenza Canine herpes virus (breeders) Coronavirus (kennels) Rabies (travel)
What are the core feline vaccinations in the UK?
Feline herpes virus - MLV
Feline calicivirus - MLV
Feline panleukopenia virus - MLV
Feline leukaemia virus (recombinant/killed)- technically non-core but given commonly due to severity of disease if acquired
When are kitten vaccinations ideally given (according to the WSAVA)?
Initial at 6-8 weeks, then q2-4 weeks until 16 weeks
When are kitten vaccinations typically given in practice?
First at 8-9 weeks
Second 3-4 weeks later (no earlier than 12 weeks)
How often are adult cats given vaccinations/boosters?
First annual vaccination at 12 months
FHV-1/FCV annually
FPV every 3 years
What are some of the non-core vaccinations for cats?
Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) FIV Chlamydia felis Bordetella bronchiseptica Feline coronavirus Rabies (travel)
Can dogs/cats be vaccinated during pregnancy?
Yes, but only with killed/inactivated vaccines
Timing often important
What is involved in a mild adverse event to a vaccine?
Transient pyrexia, lethargy, inappetence, local swelling for 2-3 days post-vaccination
What is involved in a severe adverse event to a vaccine?
Anaphylaxis
Feline injection site sarcoma
Are there any times we shouldn’t vaccinate?
Drugs - steroids, immunosuppressants
Robust evidence of prior vaccination reaction
If animal is already infected with the disease
If the animal has already recovered from natural infection with the disease (lifelong immunity)
What is aim of the UK PETS travel scheme?
To protect the UK from imported diseases
What the general requirements set by PETS regarding international travel of animals?
All pets need:
Pet passport
Microchipping (before/with rabies vaccination)
Vaccination against rabies (minimum age 12 weeks)
Travel using an approved transport company on an authorised route
What are the rabies requirements for UK entry from the EU/a listed 3rd country?
Rabies vaccination
Wait 21 days
Entry into UK allowed
What are the rabies requirements for UK entry from a non-listed 3rd country?
Rabies vaccination
> 30 days later blood sample to check rabies Ab levels
Wait 3 months after blood sample
Entry into UK allowed
What are the tapeworm requirements for entry into the UK?
Requirement for dogs to have tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before return to UK, must be administered by a vet
Praziquantel most common
What management methods are available for ticks?
Daily check and remove
Long-acting collars
Spot-on products
Long-lasting oral tablets (1-3 months)
What management methods are available for flies/mosquitoes?
House indoors during dawn/dusk
Fine mesh screens
Insect repellents
Spot-on products and collars (fleas)
What is leishmaniosis?
Intracellular protozoan parasite causing multi-systemic disease
How is leishmaniosis transmitted?
Vector-borne disease (sandflies) in travelled pets
How long is the incubation period for leishmaniosis?
Multiple years - very long
Is leishmaniosis zoonotic?
Yes
What are the typical clinical findings with leishmaniosis infection?
Patchy alopecia Crusting lesions and ulceration (non-pruritic) Inflammatory eye changes Lethargy, inappetence, pyrexia Enlarged lymph nodes and spleen
What are the possible secondary complications of leishmaniosis infection?
Kidney disease
Joint disease
Eye disease
Any organ can be affected
What is a subclinical leishmaniosis infection?
Dog is acting as a chronic disease reservoir but appears healthy
How is leishmania diagnosed?
Cytology - lymph node aspirates and conjunctival swabs
PCR on cytology samples
Serology indicates exposure/prior vaccination
How is leishmania treated?
Daily meglumine antimonate (SQ) or miltefosine (oral liquid) for first month
AND
Allopurinol (daily tablets) for 6-12 months
How can leishmania be prevented?
Don’t travel pets
Sandfly control
Leisguard
Vaccination (uncommon)
What are the 3 most common tick-borne diseases of travelled dogs?
Babesia spp.
Ehrlichia spp.
Anaplasma spp.
What are the clinical signs of Anaplasma/Erhlichia spp. infection?
Ranges from asymptomatic carriage to severe clinical disease
Pancytopenia
Severe, multi-systemic disease
How is Anaplasma/Erhlichia spp. infection diagnosed?
Cytology
PCR
Serology - in-clinic ELISA test (SNAP 4DX)
What is the treatment for Anaplasma/Erhlichia spp. infection?
Doxycycline (2-4 weeks)
Tick control
What is the prognosis for Anaplasma/Erhlichia spp. infection?
Good prognosis for Anaplasma
Guarded prognosis for Ehrlichia
What type of infection does Babesia spp. cause?
Intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite - ranges from subclinical to severe acute life-limiting illness
How is Babesia spp. transmitted?
Tick-borne
+/- iatrogenic (transfusions), dog fighting
What are the clinical features of Babesiosis?
Cats rarely affected
Dogs - haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, splenomegaly
Multi-organ failure and death
How is Babesiosis diagnosed?
Cytology (poor sensitivity)
PCR
Serology
How is Babesiosis treated?
Drug of choice depends on Babesia subspecies
+/- supportive management
What is dirofilariasis?
Heartworm infection - disease of the right side of the heart (primarily pulmonary arteries)
What is the pathogenesis of dirofilariasis (heartworm)?
L1 stage picked up by mosquito from blood of infected dog
Matures L1 > L2 > L3 in mosquito
L3 infective to new dogs
Matures L3 > L4 > L5 in dog before vascular migration where it can be picked up again by mosquito
What is the adult lifespan of heartworm?
5-7 years
What are the symptoms of heartworm infection?
(Can be asymptomatic for many months depending on severity)
Exercise intolerance
Coughing/tachypnoea/dyspnoea/lethargy
Eventually leads to right-sided heart failure
Cable syndrome - fluid accumulation in head/face
How is heartworm diagnosed?
Microfilarial (L1) detection in blood smears
ELISA (snap 4DX) for adult female Ag
Imaging - chest x-rays, ECG
What is the treatment for heartworm?
Requires specialist veterinary cardiologist
Drugs to kill adult worms (L5) and microfilariae (L1)
Surgical retrieval and removal
How can heartworm infection be prevented?
Monthly tablet prevention in endemic countries arrests L3 > L4 development - start 1 month before travel
Mosquito management
What is the greatest risk to life with a heartworm infection?
High risk of thromboembolic events - makes animal more prone to developing blood clots
