The annual\/biannual (routine) administration of vaccines in pets has been one of the
\nmost significant factors in the consistent reduction of serious canine\/feline infectious
\ndiseases. This approach has resulted in excellent disease control for infections that
\nwere once considered important causes of morbidity and mortality, such as distemper
\nand parvo viral infections (unlike the situation in people where infectious diseases were
\ndeclining due to improvement in sanitation prior to the development of vaccines, even
\npets living in clean and sanitary conditions can develop fatal viral diseases; vaccination
\nhas reduced the incidence of these infections.)<\/p>\n
Although veterinarians tend to agree that at least some vaccines are necessary, the
\nfrequency in which they\u2019re given, and the choice of vaccines needed, is still debated.
\nStudies showing minimum duration of immunity for many vaccines of at least 3 years
\n(and likely longer) are causing veterinarians to question the routine frequency with
\nwhich vaccines are administered. As a result, veterinarians are turning to blood antibody
\ntiter testing to help them answer the following questions so they can make the most
\nappropriate recommendations to their clients.<\/p>\n
If \u201cYes,\u201d WHY?? If, \u201cNo,\u201d WHY NOT??
\nHow do we know which pets need which vaccines??<\/p>\n
Based upon current research we know that most of our vaccines, specifically the core
\ncanine vaccines (parvo virus, distemper virus, and adenovirus) and feline vaccines
\n(calici, panleukopenia, and rhinotracheitis,) can produce long-lasting immunity, thus
\nmaking the need for regular vaccination for these diseases unnecessary. According to
\nthe current standard recommendation, core vaccines should not be given any more
\nfrequently than every three years after the initial (usually puppy and kitten) vaccine
\nseries, because the duration of immunity (DOI) is many years and may be up to the
\nlifetime of the pet.<\/p>\n
In order to ensure the existence of duration of immunity, and to determine if and when
\nbooster vaccinations are needed, titer testing may be used as an inexpensive way to
\ndetermine antibody presence.<\/p>\n
The 3-year recommendation for core vaccines is made on the basis of minimum
\nduration of immunity (DOI) studies over the past 30 years for vaccines. These studies
\nwere done by all of the major vaccine companies, as well as by independent
\nresearchers. The results of the studies conducted by the major manufacturers for core
\nvaccines demonstrated that a minimum DOI for these core vaccines was 3 years, based
\non challenge and\/or serologic studies.<\/p>\n
Despite the confusion and controversy surrounding antibody titer testing, these
\nserologic tests are useful for monitoring immunity to many diseases. A titer is not a
\nsnapshot in time but more like a motion picture that plays on and on. An animal\u2019s titer is
\nhighest right after vaccination. The titer then decreases but stabilizes within six months
\nto a year and often remains at that level for many years. Titers may actually increase
\nover the life of the pet, indicating exposure to the infectious organism and an
\nappropriate immune response preventing disease. Therefore, titer testing is a reliable
\nmeasure of the ongoing immunity to specific viral diseases (Note-current
\nrecommendations are that titer testing is an effective test for antibody-driven immunity
\nfor all dog core vaccines and for the cat panleukopenia vaccine. In practice, titer testing
\nfor the cat calici and herpes virus is used to determine protective immunity but it must
\nbe kept in mind that both antibody and cell-mediated immunity is needed for protection
\nfrom these 2 diseases. In my practice, a vaccination schedule based upon titer testing
\nfor all 3 cat diseases has protected my patients from infection in their environments.)<\/p>\n
Titer testing has many benefits. These include the prevention of unnecessary
\nvaccination, allowing the doctor to individualize vaccine protocols, bonding clients to the
\npractice, and encouraging vaccination when needed. Titer testing is accepted by
\nveterinary experts and has been proven valid. As an alternative to vaccination, it is
\naccepted by most kennels and groomers. When done in-house or at inexpensive (usally
\nstate diagnostic) laboratories it is cost effective and easy to perform.<\/p>\n
Titer testing can be done inexpensively or more expensively, depending upon the
\npractice and which lab is used for the testing. A drawback for some clients is the
\nexpense of titer testing. However, using my practice as an example, titer testing is under
\n$200 as of this writing for a complete set of titers for core vaccines for dogs and cats
\n(we actually do the titer testing in our hospital for dogs, but the cat titer test still must be
\nsent to an outside lab.) However, I\u2019ve seen prices for more than double this amount as
\nother doctors send the tests to an outside reference lab which can cost quite a bit more.<\/p>\n
My easy answer is to find another vet! You can\u2019t force a doctor to do something he
\ndoesn\u2019t want to do or doesn\u2019t know how to interpret when he gets the results.
\nFortunately, titer testing is slowly becoming accepted among mainstream doctors. As a
\nrule, finding a holistic veterinarian may be needed for titer testing, but the benefit is that
\nongoing pet care will also be viewed from a holistic perspective, which I believe can
\ndecrease disease and increase longevity in most pets.
\nWhen to Use Titer Testing in Practice
\nSince the purpose of titer testing is to demonstrate protective immunity, it should be
\ndone in the following instances: any adult animals (1 year of age and older,) strays,
\nshelters\/rescue groups, pets with lapsed vaccinations, and in puppies and kittens 3 or
\nmore weeks after the last pet vaccine visit which occurs at 14 to 16 weeks of age. When
\nantibody is present there should not be a need to revaccinate the pet for the specific
\ndisease being tested. If antibody titer is absent (irrespective of the serological test used)
\nrevaccination should be considered unless there is a medical basis for not so doing.
\nWhile no test is perfect, in clinical practice titer testing has been found to be a rational
\nsubstitute for frequent vaccination, especially in pets with minimal exposure to other
\nanimals.<\/p>\n
These other diseases are rare causes of disease in pets and routine immunization is not
\nneeded or required. Bordetella vaccination in dogs should NEVER be done more than
\nonce per year, mainly at the request of a grooming\/boarding\/day care facility. Rabies is
\nrequired by law (see my handout discussing the rabies vaccine for more information on
\nthis special case.) Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection affecting people and pets,
\ntypically transmitted by infected rodent urine. Most pets will not need this vaccine, and
\nin my experience, while rare, it causes more vaccine reactions (including very severe
\nones) than other vaccines. Cat leukemia virus is mostly a problem of outdoor cats with
\nclose and intimate exposure to infected cats. It is done in cats with high risk of exposure
\nif they cannot be made \u201cindoor-only\u201d cats.<\/p>\n
Keep the following point, taken from the website of the American Animal Hospital
\nAssociation\u2019s guidelines on dog and cat vaccines, in mind when deciding upon the need
\nfor ongoing vaccination:\u201dThe decision to vaccinate, even with core vaccines, should be
\nbased on a risk-benefit assessment for each pet and for each vaccine antigen. Benefits
\nof vaccination should be balanced against the risk of adverse events, likelihood of
\nexposure, and disease severity. Every effort should be made to ensure that pets are
\nhealthy before vaccination.\u201d<\/p>\n
A vaccinated person or pet is assumed to be immunized (protected from disease based
\nupon an effective immune response to the vaccine.) However, it is possible to be
\nvaccinated and not be immune from disease. This can happen due to vaccine type,
\nspecific disease against which a vaccine is developed, vaccination against a specific
\nstrain of the disease organism if the patient is infected with a different strain not
\nincluded in the vaccine, vaccination given at the wrong age of the patient, vaccination
\ngiven during illness if the immune system is unable to respond immunologically, age of
\nthe pet and status of the immune system based upon age, maternal antibodies (present
\nin newborns,) and in those rare instances where the patient\u2019s immune system is
\ndefective and unable to respond to any vaccine. While we assume a vaccinated patient
\nis immunized (safe from infection,) this is only an assumption (although a logical one)
\nand cannot be definitively stated without proof of immune response to the vaccine
\n(testing of the patient, which is rarely done for practical reasons.)<\/p>\n
Titer testing is simple and inexpensive. While not perfect, it does provide a degree of
\nconfidence in showing protective immunity in pets in which a reduced vaccination
\nschedule is desired. Titer testing can prevent unnecessary vaccination of patients, save
\nowners money wasted on unnecessary vaccines, and can reduce or prevent acute and
\nchronic vaccine reactions. If vaccines are needed, titer testing can determine which
\nvaccines are needed and help ensure proper immunity to important viral diseases. In
\nmy practice (and the practices of other holistic doctors,) titer testing has replaced
\nroutine vaccination and I believe has contributed to increased longevity and health in my patients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Using Titer Testing As A Healthy Alternative to Annual Vaccination Shawn Messonnier DVM Paws and Claws Holistic Animal Hospital Plano, Tx. www.pawsandclawsanimalhospital.com The annual\/biannual (routine) administration of vaccines in pets has been one of the most significant factors in the consistent reduction of serious canine\/feline infectious diseases. This approach has resulted in excellent disease control 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