Effects of anesthesia and surgery on serologic responses to vaccination in kittens

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of anesthesia and surgery on serologic responses to vaccination in kittens. DESIGN: Prospective controlled trial. ANIMALS: 32 specific-pathogen-free kittens. PROCEDURES: Kittens were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: neutering at 7, 8, or 9 weeks of age or no neutering. All kittens were inoculated with modified-live virus vaccines against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and feline calicivirus (FCV) at 8, 11, and 14 weeks of age and inactivated rabies virus (RV) at 14 weeks of age. Serum antibody titers against FPV, FHV, and FCV were determined at 8, 9, 11, 14, and 17 weeks of age; RV titers were determined at 14 and 17 weeks of age. RESULTS: Serologic responses of kittens neutered at the time of first vaccination (8 weeks) were not different from those of kittens neutered 1 week before (7 weeks) or 1 week after (9 weeks) first vaccination or from those of kittens that were not neutered. In total, 31%, 0%, 69%, and 9% of kittens failed to develop adequate titers against FPV, FCV, FHV, and RV, respectively, by 17 weeks of age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Neutering at or near the time of first vaccination with a modified-live virus vaccine did not impair antibody responses in kittens. Many kittens that were last vaccinated at 14 weeks of age had inadequate antibody titers at 17 weeks of age. Kittens may be vaccinated in the perioperative period when necessary, and the primary vaccination series should be extended through at least 16 weeks of age.     

Effect of vaccination on parvovirus antigen testing in kittens

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and duration of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) vaccine-induced interference with fecal parvovirus diagnostic testing in cats. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. ANIMALS: Sixty-four 8- to 10-week-old specific-pathogen-free kittens. PROCEDURES: Kittens were inoculated once with 1 of 8 commercial multivalent vaccines containing modified-live virus (MLV) or inactivated FPV by the SC or intranasal routes. Feces were tested for parvovirus antigen immediately prior to vaccination, then daily for 14 days with 3 tests designed for detection of canine parvovirus. Serum anti-FPV antibody titers were determined by use of hemagglutination inhibition prior to vaccination and 14 days later. RESULTS: All fecal parvovirus test results were negative prior to vaccination. After vaccination, 1 kitten had positive test results with test 1, 4 kittens had positive results with test 2, and 13 kittens had positive results with test 3. Only 1 kitten had positive results with all 3 tests, and only 2 of those tests were subjectively considered to have strongly positive results. At 14 days after vaccination, 31% of kittens receiving inactivated vaccines had protective FPV titers, whereas 85% of kittens receiving MLV vaccines had protective titers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Animal shelter veterinarians should select fecal tests for parvovirus detection that have high sensitivity for FPV and low frequency of vaccine-related test interference. Positive parvovirus test results should be interpreted in light of clinical signs, vaccination history, and results of confirmatory testing. Despite the possibility of test interference, the benefit provided by universal MLV FPV vaccination of cats in high-risk environments such as shelters outweighs the impact on diagnostic test accuracy.     

Current vaccination strategies in puppies and kittens.

Motivation in writing this article stems from many things: a lack of time spent in the veterinary curriculum discussing vaccines, a growing concern(by the general public and the veterinary community) regarding adverse reactions associated with vaccines, and a desire to prevent a recurrence of preventable infectious diseases resulting from a fear-driven cessation of vaccine administration. The objectives of this article are to present a basic review of immunology as related to vaccines, to discuss general guidelines for pediatric vaccines in canine and feline patients,and to offer suggestions as to how we can most positively influence our patients' health from the first visit.     

Effects of passive transfer of immunity on results of diagnostic tests for antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus in kittens born to vaccinated queens

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether passive transfer of immunity affects results of diagnostic tests for antibodies against FIV in kittens born to vaccinated queens. DESIGN: Experimental trial. ANIMALS: 12 specific-pathogen-free queens and their 55 kittens. PROCEDURE: Queens were vaccinated with a whole-virus FIV vaccine prior to breeding. Serum was obtained from the queens on the day of parturition and from the kittens on days 2 and 7, then weekly until results of tests for antibodies against FIV were negative for 2 consecutive weeks. Milk was collected from the queens daily for the first week and then weekly. Serum and milk were tested for antibodies against FIV with 2 commercial assays. RESULTS: Antibodies against FIV were detected in serum obtained from the queens on the day of parturition and in the milk throughout lactation. All kittens tested positive for antibodies against FIV at 2 days of age. At 8 weeks of age, 30 (55%) kittens tested positive with 1 of the commercial assays, and 35 (64%) tested positive with the other. All kittens tested negative for antibodies against FIV by 12 weeks of age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that kittens readily absorb antibodies against FIV in colostrum from vaccinated queens and that these antibodies may interfere with results of commercially available tests for FIV infection past the age of weaning. Currently licensed diagnostic tests for FIV infection are unable to distinguish among kittens with antibodies against FIV as a result of infection, passive transfer from infected queens, and passive transfer from vaccinated queens.     

母源抗体对猪口蹄疫疫苗免疫应答的影响

用液相阻断ELISA(Liquid phase blocking ELISA,LPB-ELISA)和正向间接血凝(Indirect hemagglutination test,IHAT)2种血清学试验方法对规模化饲养猪群仔猪的口蹄疫母源抗体、母源抗体的传递途径、消长规律、母/仔代特异抗体相关性及母源抗体对口蹄疫疫苗免疫的影响进行了研究和分析。结果表明,2种血清学方法均没有从未吸吮初乳的新生仔猪中检出特异抗体;在吸吮初乳后的仔猪血清中可检出特异性抗体,并于10日龄左右抗体效价升至峰值,而后随着日龄的增加,特异性抗体的效价呈明显的线性下降,母源抗体半衰期约为10～20d,至45～60日龄母源抗体效价降至不完全保护带(lgX<1.8)或更低;仔猪母源抗体水平与母体特异抗体水平呈正相关。通过对不同日龄仔猪接种口蹄疫疫苗后抗体水平检测发现,仔猪体内较高水平的母源抗体对疫苗免疫应答具有明显或一定的负面影响。     

Antibody response of kittens after vaccination followed by exposure to feline leukemia virus-infected cats.

Protein (western) blot analysis and virus-neutralization assay were used to evaluate the antibody response of specific-pathogen-free kittens to FeLV vaccination and followed by natural exposure. Several kittens had barely detectable reactions to specific FeLV antigens prior to vaccination or exposure. Correlation was not found between protection against persistent viremia and antibody response after vaccination as measured by western blot analysis or virus neutralization assay. A statistically significant (P less than 0.01) difference in the antibody response against p27 antigen after natural exposure to FeLV was observed between persistently viremic kittens and transiently viremic or aviremic kittens. Measurable (P less than 0.05) virus neutralizing antibody titer after FeLV exposure was found only in a small number of kittens that were protected against persistent viremia. Lack of association between humoral response and vaccination-induced protection against persistent FeLV infection suggests an important role for cell-mediated immunity in such protection.     

饲喂鸡肝对幼猫骨代谢的影响

选取50日龄左右健康短毛家猫20只,分为2组,每组10只,一组饲喂商品猫粮,另一组饲喂鸡肝,研究饲喂鸡肝对幼猫骨代谢的影响。结果表明:饲喂鸡肝可对幼猫的骨代谢产生明显影响,如显著降低血清钙(Ca)、骨钙素(BGP)和25OHD3含量;同时,血清碱性磷酸酶活性(AKP)和降钙素(CT)含量显著升高。鸡肝组幼猫在饲喂到50d时血清甲状旁腺激素(PTH)含量显著升高,但在饲喂到85d时显著降低。在饲喂到90d时,鸡肝组幼猫股骨长度极显著低于猫粮组(P<0.01)。     

Duration of colostral antibodies to bovine leukemia virus by two serologic tests

The duration of detectable colostral antibodies to the glycoprotein antigen of bovine leukemia virus was studied in calves which were born to bovine leukemia virus-infected cows, but showed no serologic evidence of prenatal infection. Colostral antibodies detectable by an agar-gel immunodiffusion test (AGIT) persisted for less than 1 month to 6 months (mean 2.9 months) in the 139 calves examined. Colostral antibodies were detectable 1 to 5 months longer by radioimmunoprecipitation assay than by the AGIT in 22 of the 24 calves studied comparatively. The mean duration of colostral antibodies in those 24 calves was 3.8 months (min-max, 2 to 6 months) for the AGIT and 6.0 months (min-max, 4 to 9 months) for the radioimmunoprecipitation assay.     

Effect of vaccination against feline immunodeficiency virus on results of serologic testing in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of vaccination against FIV on results of serologic assays for FIV infection. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 26 specific-pathogen-free cats, 102 laboratory-reared cats (42 unvaccinated and uninfected, 41 vaccinated and uninfected, and 19 infected with FIV), and 22 client-owned cats infected with FIV. PROCEDURE: To determine the onset and duration of anti-FIV antibody production in cats following vaccination with a whole-virus vaccine, serum was obtained from the 26 specific-pathogen-free cats prior to vaccination and weekly for 10 weeks, then monthly for 52 weeks, after vaccination; serum was tested for anti-FIV antibodies with lateral flow and microwell plate ELISAs. To determine the diagnostic performance of serologic assays for FIV infection, plasma from uninfected, unvaccinated cats; uninfected, vaccinated cats; and FIV-infected cats was tested for FIV antibodies with the 2 ELISAs, a western blot assay, and an immunofluorescence antibody assay and for FIV antigen with an ELISA. RESULTS: Anti-FIV antibodies were detected in all 26 vaccinated cats 1 year after vaccination. Sensitivity of the antibody assays for FIV infection was high (98% to 100%). Specificity was high in unvaccinated cats (90% to 100%) but poor in vaccinated cats (0% to 54%). None of the vaccinated or infected cats had detectable FIV antigen in plasma. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that vaccination against FIV causes false-positive results for at least 1 year with currently available serologic assays for FIV infection. Negative FIV antibody assay results are highly reliable for detection of uninfected cats, but positive results should be interpreted with caution.     

Effects of dexamethasone on development of immunoglobulin G subclass responses following vaccination of horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of dexamethasone on development of IgG subclass responses following vaccination of healthy horses. ANIMALS: 11 mature Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURE: Horses received 2 IM injections at 2-week intervals of a vaccine containing inactivated infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea, and parainfluenza-3 viral antigens and were then randomly assigned to 2 groups. Six horses received dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg of body weight, IM) twice weekly for 8 weeks starting the day of the first vaccination. Five control horses received an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Antigen-specific serum IgG subclass titers were determined weekly after vaccination by use of an ELISA. RESULTS: Vaccination resulted in similar antigen-specific serum IgG(T) titers in dexamethasone-treated and control horses. In contrast, although control horses developed IgGa and IgGb responses after vaccination, corticosteroid administration completely inhibited these responses in treated horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cortico steroids can have profound effects on primary immune responses in horses and can significantly affect IgG responses to inactivated vaccines. Corticosteroid treatment regimens commonly used to treat diseases in horses may result induction of a nonprotective IgG subclass response, leaving treated horses susceptible to disease. Additionally, mechanisms regulating IgGa and IgGb responses appear to differ from those regulating IgG(T) responses. Further defining these mechanisms is a critical step in designing effective vaccines, and corticosteroid-induced immunomodulation may be a valuable tool for studying immune responses in horses.     

Effects of stage of gestation and breed on bovine responses to vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19.

Eighty-eight cattle were injected SC with 2.5 x 10(8) viable cells of Brucella abortus strain 19. All but 1 heifer became seropositive on the basis of the results of 7 brucellosis tests, and the proportion positive decreased with time. The proportion of cattle that were seropositive during a 20- to 67-week period after vaccination was as follows, in decreasing order: hemolysis-in-gel, 59%; buffered-acid plate antigen, 39%; ELISA, 16%; card, 10%; rivanol, 8%; cold complement-fixation, 7%; and automated complement-fixation, 5%. Using the serologic classification in Uniform Methods and Rules for brucellosis eradication, 7 cattle tested brucellosis-positive (2 suspects and 5 reactors). None of the 27 nonpregnant heifers tested positive. Of 18 heifers that were 84 to 135 days in gestation when vaccinated, 6 (33%) tested positive for brucellosis, compared with 0 of 13 and 1 (3%) of 30 heifers that were 11 to 78 and 145 to 253 days in gestation at vaccination, respectively (X2 = 12.07; 2 df; P less than 0.01). Neither breed (Angus, Hereford, Jersey, and Brahman) nor calf survival was related to brucellosis-positive results. Postpartum milk samples from 61 heifers and 24 tissues from 2 reactor cattle were culture-negative for B abortus.     

Comparison of four serologic tests for the detection of antibodies to bovine leukemia virus

Four tests for detection of antibodies to bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were compared. The sera that were tested came from cattle in naturally infected commercial dairy herds, cattle that were infected under experimental conditions, and cattle in an isolated BLV-free herd. The tests that were compared included a radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIA) with p24 antigen, a RIA with glycoprotein (gp) antigen, an agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test with gp antigen, and a virus-neutralization (VN) test that was based on inhibition of BLV-induced syncytia in cell culture. Results of the 4 serologic tests agreed for 96.8% of the sera from cattle in commercial herds. The gp RIA detected the greatest number of positive sera (188); it was followed in turn by the p24 RIA (187), the VN test (183), and the AGID test (176). The gpd RIA titers of the 12 sera that gave negative AGID results were 175 or less. In RIA, the percentage of precipitation of labeled antigen by positive sera was almost always higher with gp antigen than with p24 antigen. Satisfactory sensitivity in the p24 RIA required the acceptance of a low level of antigen precipitation, 15%, as a positive test. In the gp RIA, however, almost all positive sera precipitated at least 50% of the labeled antigen. Nonspecific precipitation of antigen in the RIA by sera from BLV-free cattle ranged from 4% to 10%. Examination of sequential serum samples from 17 experimentally infected cattle showed that BLV antibody was first detected 2 to 8 weeks after inoculation. In 9 cattle, seroconversion was detected simultaneously by all of the tests. Results from the other 8 cattle indicated that seroconversion could be detected first by p24 RIA, followed by the gp RIA and the VN test. The longest interval between RIA seroconversion and AGID seroconversion was 10 days. Monthly tests of sera from 10 laboratory cattle that were infected by contact exposure showed that 7 animals seroconverted in all tests at the same time. Two cattle were positive first in RIA, but the next month they were also positive in the VN and AGID tests. One animal was positive in the RIA and the VN test for 2 months before antibody was detected by AGID.     

A chronicle of serologic response in commercial layer chickens to vaccination with commercial F strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine

Vaccination of multi-age layer operations, wherein one million plus commercial layer chickens are housed, has been spurious until the development of a self-propelled, constant-speed spray vaccinator. Still, even with its use, live Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) vaccinations have been questionable in terms of seroconversion. Using the vaccinator as a research tool over the past 5 yr, factors have been elucidated which impact seroconversion to one live MG vaccine in particular, the F strain of MG (FMG). These factors include the type of nozzle used to spray the vaccine, the temperature of the water used to rehydrate and administer the vaccine, and the pH and osmolarity of the fluid used to apply the vaccine. In the present study, one farm was monitored for its seroconversion rates over 4 1/2 yr, during which time the FMG vaccination protocol was amended as factors were identified that enhanced seroconversion rates. The results of this study showed that implementation and inclusion of the optimized factors into the vaccination protocol for FMG enhanced seroconversion rates because they went from an initial 50%-55% positive seroconversion rate to a consistent 100% positive seroconversion rate over the 56-mo study period.     

Pseudomonas pneumonia of mink: pathogenesis, vaccination, and serologic studies

Fulminating pneumonia was produced in mink by the intratracheal administration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The sequence of pulmonary lesions was focal inflammation, focal necrosis, and widespread inflammation and necrosis. Secondary lesions of peracute hemorrhage and necrosis were the result of bacterial spread via the airways. Invasion of vessel walls by P aeruginosa was a terminal event and was secondary to bacillary invasion and necrosis of adjacent tissues. Regional (lymphatic) and systemic spread of bacteria followed the development of pulmonary lesions, but there was little morphologic evidence of tissue damage in other organs. Immunofluorescence studies showed that P aeruginosa antigen was dispersed within pulmonary cells and was free in the lung parenchyma. Mink surviving beyond postinfection hour 60 had a macrophage infiltration into limited pulmonary lesions. A vaccine trial was conducted with P aeruginosa lipopolysaccharides (LPS) used as antigen, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibody. Antibody was detected in mink after vaccination with LPS or natural exposure. Mink with antibody to LPS, from vaccination or naturally acquired, were resistant to experimental infection.     

Effect of passively-acquired antibodies and vaccination on the immune response to contagious ecthyma virus

Lambs which received colostrum from ewes vaccinated with contagious ecthyma (CE) virus and other lambs vaccinated with CE virus were compared for serum anti-CE immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to CE viral antigen, and protective immunity to challenge with CE virus. Ewes vaccinated 3-4 weeks prior to parturition transferred CE antibody to lambs via colostrum. Although these lambs had higher levels of antibody at challenge than lambs vaccinated when 1-4 days old, only the vaccinated lambs were protected against challenge with CE virus at 1 month of age. Furthermore, the presence of colostrum-derived maternal antibody prevented an active antibody response in lambs to vaccination and/or challenge with CE virus, except where pre-inoculation titres were low. In contrast, the DTH response to CE viral antigen and induction of protective immunity by CE vaccination were not impaired by passively-acquired antibody. Actively immunised lambs could be distinguished from those only receiving passively-acquired antibody by the DTH response to heat-killed CE viral antigen.     

玉屏风散及其麦冬加味对O型口蹄疫疫苗免疫反应的影响

21只ICR小鼠随机分为对照组、玉屏风散组和玉屏风散加麦冬组。将玉屏风散及其加味制成含生药2g/mL的药液,每只小鼠灌胃给药1次(0.25mL),24h后经腹股沟皮下注射口蹄疫(FMD)疫苗(0.2mL),2周后用同样方法加强免疫1次。二免后3周采血和取脾脏,用间接ELISA检测特异性IgG及其亚类,用MTT法进行淋巴细胞增殖试验。结果显示,二免后试验组血清抗FMDVIgG和IgG亚类水平以及淋巴细胞刺激指数均显著高于对照组(P0.05),而玉屏风散和玉屏风散加麦冬2组间的抗体水平以及淋巴细胞刺激指数没有显著性差异(P0.05)。     

Effects of vaccination infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and simultaneous administration of levamisole on primary humoral responses in calves.

In a study on the primary humoral response of calves vaccinated against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and simultaneously given levamisole, mild but consistent suppression of the group's geometric mean serum-neutralization titer to IBR virus occurred between 12 and 59 days later. The quantitative determination of circulating immunoglobulins (Ig) over the same period indicated a slight decrease in the IgG concentrations from an initial geometric mean concentration of 18.28 mg/ml before calves were vaccinated to 15.29 mg/ml after vaccination, and the control calves (vaccinated and given saline solution only) maintained their prevaccination IgG geometric mean concentration of 20.92 mg/ml. Difference was not observed in the circulating IgM values of the 2 groups. Levamisole had no apparent effect on the circulating Ig-bearing lymphocyte values when compared with control calves during the 24 hours of treatment. It was concluded that a single treatment of levamisole may mildly suppress the primary humoral response to IBR vaccination in calves, but it is unlikely that this would affect the animal's capability to recover from, or maintain resistance to, IBR infection.     

Vaccination against feline viral rhinotracheitis in kittens with maternally derived feline viral rhinotracheitis antibodies

The efficacy of a modified live-virus intranasal vaccine and a killed-virus adjuvanted parenteral vaccine in inducing protective immunity against feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) was evaluated in kittens with and without maternally derived FVR antibodies. The intranasal vaccine was given as a single dose to kittens 5 weeks old, and the parenteral vaccine was administered in 2 doses at 5 and 7 weeks of age. Seroconversion was delayed for 5 to 10 days in kittens with maternally derived antibodies, but occurred in all vaccinated kittens by 8 weeks of age. When virulent FVR virus was given, both vaccines provided satisfactory protection against disease but did not prevent infection. The results indicated that the modified live-virus intranasal vaccine or the killed-virus adjuvanted parenteral vaccine can be used successfully in kittens with residual maternally derived FVR antibodies.     

Influence of environmental temperatures on the serologic responses of broiler chickens to inactivated and viable Newcastle disease vaccines

Commercial and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) nonselected broilers were held at environmental temperatures that simulated the cyclic diurnal extremes for either hot (26.6 C-40.7 C) or moderate (18.3 C-32.3 C) summer temperatures. The chicks received either inactivated or viable La Sota Newcastle vaccines at various times after the initiation of the temperature extremes. When held at moderate temperatures for 7 days and then injected with inactivated vaccine, commercial chicks developed slightly higher but not statistically different levels of antibody compared with chicks held in the hot environment. In one experiment, the geometric mean serologic hemagglutination-inhibition responses of SPF chickens housed at extremely high temperatures for 4 days before being injected with inactivated vaccine were significantly greater (P less than or equal to 0.05) than those held at moderate temperatures. The reverse was apparent for chickens that received live vaccine virus after being in the hot environment for any of several lengths of time before vaccination.