https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2016-04-06-nl-overdue-rabies-vaccine/
By Dr. Becker
I have some encouraging news!
On March 1, 2016, the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control Committee, under the auspices of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, published revised recommendations for handling pets overdue for revaccination against rabies in the event they are exposed to the virus.
The new guidelines, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Associationrecommend that cats and dogs exposed to rabies who are overdue for a vaccine receive a booster shot (revaccination) followed by an observation period rather than being quarantined or euthanized.1
Currently, if an animal with a rabies vaccination is exposed to a rabid animal, the law in many states requires that the animal be quarantined for several months at the owner’s expense, or euthanized.
The revised guidelines also recommend reducing the quarantine period from 6 months to 4 months for not vaccinated cats and dogs exposed to rabies.
New guidelines follow 4-year study
The new guidelines follow the results of a study conducted at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) by veterinary researchers led by Dr. Michael C. Moore.2
Dr. Moore and his team set out to evaluate whether dogs and cats overdue (by law) for a rabies vaccine respond satisfactorily to a booster (revaccination).
Over 4 years, between 2010 and 2014, researchers collected blood samples from 74 dogs and 33 cats who had 1) been exposed to rabies and brought to a veterinarian, or 2) brought to a veterinarian for a rabies booster.
KSVDL researchers administered a rabies booster to each dog and cat to assess their anamnestic antibody responses.
They found that after 5 to 15 days, all animals – both those currently vaccinated and those overdue for vaccination – had rabies-neutralizing antibody titers ≥ 0.5 IU/mL, indicating immunity against the virus.
Study proves protection against rabies doesn’t suddenly disappear on a predetermined date
The results of the study demonstrate that when an animal whose anti-rabies vaccination has expired receives the booster, the antibody in his blood increases, protecting him from exposure to the virus. The study authors concluded:
“The results support immediate booster vaccination followed by observation for 45 days of dogs and cats whose vaccination status has expired and who are exposed to rabies, as is the current practice for dogs and cats whose vaccination status is current.”3
Moore said: “When it comes to vaccinating people or animals, they don’t suddenly get zero protection or loss of priming on a predetermined date.”
The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory team receives several calls each month regarding cats and dogs that have been exposed to rabies and are overdue for a vaccine. Traditionally, the only options available were a very expensive six-month quarantine or euthanasia.
“We are very pleased that people can have an additional option if their cat or dog is expired and exposed to rabies,” Moore said.
Most animals overdue for booster were still immune to rabies
More interesting than the rabies booster results for those of us who struggle with rabies. over-vaccination of pets This is what researchers found about the dogs and cats in the study Before they were revaccinated against rabies.
Based on blood samples collected on day 0 of the study, several of the animals with expired rabies vaccinations had acceptable, or even high, rabies antibody titers before the booster. Examples:
- A dog 3 months overdue for a 3-year-old vaccination had a titer before booster of 9.7 IU/mL.
- A dog 5.5 months overdue for a 3-year vaccination had a titer before booster of 12 IU/mL.
- A dog 2 years overdue for a 1-year vaccination had a pre-booster titer of 0.6 IU/mL, as did a dog 3.5 months overdue for a 1-year vaccination.
- A dog 1.5 years overdue for a 1-year vaccination had a pre-booster titer of 1.8 IU/mL.
- A cat 9 months overdue for a 3-year-old vaccination had a titer before booster of 12 IU/mL.
For the entire group of 74 dogs, those currently vaccinated (55) had a median preboost titer of 2.6 IU/mL. The remaining 19 dogs with expired vaccinations had a median pre-booster titer of 2.0 IU/mL – well above the ≥0.5 IU/mL that indicates protection against the virus.
Of the 33 kittens, 7 were currently vaccinated against rabies and the other 26 were overdue. Cats with a current vaccine had a median pre-booster titer of 2.4 IU/mL and, interestingly, kittens with expired vaccinations had a median pre-booster titer of 6.3 IU/mL – again, well above the median title before recall. Objective ≥ 0.5 IU/mL.
This means that the vast majority of pets in the study, whether currently vaccinated against rabies or overdue for a vaccine for 1 or 3 years, had adequate rabies neutralizing antibody titers and were protected in the event of exposure to the virus. before receiving a rabies booster.
Will the new guidelines change state rabies vaccination laws?
Unfortunately, the veterinary community can only make recommendations regarding the management of animals exposed to rabies. According to Dr. Richard Ford, professor emeritus at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine:
“The application, interpretation, and compliance with rabies vaccination laws can vary widely from state to state, and even from county to county. Complex and sometimes conflicting rabies laws can lead to considerable confusion, misinterpretation of state and local laws, and inappropriate actions by individual practitioners. »
As Dr. Jean Dodds, an authority on veterinary vaccines and chair of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) Communications Committee, points out in a press release titled “Changes Sought in Rabies Vaccination Laws based on scientific research”:
“Until legal changes occur, animal keepers and veterinarians must comply with current legal statutes. Serum rabies antibody titration may be performed for informational purposes, documentation and to meet regulatory requirements. export and import requirements, but this does not replace the legal requirement for rabies booster vaccination.”4
I hope I will have more good news to report in the near future regarding state adoption of the new recommendations from the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2016.
In the meantime you can add RabiesAware.org, a new site (sponsored by veterinary pharmaceutical company Merial) that “provides quick access to current and validated state-level rabies vaccination laws and regulations.” This information is a resource for veterinarians, but pet guardians will also find it useful. The site is still being populated as of this writing, so not all states have information available yet.
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