Page 1481 - Small Animal Internal Medicine, 6th Edition

CHAPTER 93 Prevention of Infectious Diseases 1453

guidelines are meant to be suitable for cats living worldwide Similar results have been seen in other studies in Europe and
and rabies is not endemic in all countries. Other sources Japan.
VetBooks.ir for feline vaccine administration recommendations include in shelters, and in catteries are presented in the AAFP docu-
Use of FVRCP vaccines in other situations like boarding,
the ABCD guidelines in Europe (Hosie et al., 2015) and
the WSAVA guidelines (http://www.wsava.org/Guidelines/
Vaccination-Guidelines). ment (Scherk et al., 2013; www.catvets.com).
Noncore Vaccines
Core Vaccines Bordetella bronchiseptica
Feline panleukopenia virus, feline calicivirus, The currently available B. bronchiseptica vaccine for intra-
feline herpesvirus-1 nasal administration can be administered as early as 4 weeks
All healthy kittens and adult cats without a known vac- of age, has an onset of immunity as early as 72 hours, and
cination history should be routinely vaccinated with an is believed to have a minimal duration of immunity of 1
intranasal or parenteral vaccine that contains FPV, FCV, and year. Many cats have antibodies against B. bronchiseptica, the
FHV-1 (FVRCP). Multiple modified-live products and killed organism is commonly cultured from cats in crowded envi-
products are available, but they vary by country. In general, ronments, and sporadic reports have been made of severe
modified-live FVRCP vaccines are recommended for kittens lower respiratory disease caused by bordetellosis in kittens
housed in environments at high risk for exposure to FPV and cats in crowded environments or other stressful situ-
because this type of vaccine is least likely to be inactivated ations. However, the significance of infection in otherwise
by antibodies transferred to the kitten as part of maternally healthy pet cats appears to be minimal. Bordetella vaccina-
derived immunity. Killed FVRCP vaccines have the advan- tion should be considered primarily for use in cats at high
tage of not replicating in the host, so they are safe for admin- risk for exposure and disease, such as those with a history
istration to pregnant queens and do not colonize the host. of respiratory problems and living in shelters with culture-
Modified-live FVRCP vaccines for intranasal administration proven outbreaks.
can induce protection against FHV-1 as soon as 4 days after Chlamydia felis
administration, so this route may be preferred for kittens Killed and modified-live Chlamydia felis–containing
housed in environments at high risk for exposure to FHV-1 vaccines are available. Infection of cats by C. felis generally
(Lappin et al., 2006a). However, it was shown that signifi- results in only mild conjunctivitis, is easily treated with anti-
cant protection against FHV-1 is induced as soon as 1 week biotics, and has variable prevalence rates, and the organism
after administration of one subcutaneous dose of a killed or is of minimal zoonotic risk to people. In addition, use of
modified live FHV-1 containing vaccine (Summers et al., FVRCP vaccines that also contained C. felis was associated
2017). Modified-live products should not be administered with more vaccine reactions in cats when compared with
to clinically ill, debilitated, or pregnant animals. Owners other products (Moore et al., 2007). Thus whether C. felis
should be informed that the administration of intranasal vaccination is ever necessary in the United States is ques-
FVRCP vaccines can induce transient, mild sneezing or tioned. The use of this vaccine should be reserved for cats
coughing. with a high risk of exposure to other cats and in catteries
For kittens believed to have no more than routine risk of with endemic disease.
exposure to FPV, FCV, or FHV-1, administration of FVRCP Feline leukemia virus
vaccines is recommended starting no sooner than 6 weeks Multiple FeLV-containing vaccines are currently avail-
of age, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 to 20 weeks able in some countries. Some contain killed FeLV with and
of age. Older kittens and adult cats with unknown vaccina- without adjuvants, and one contains recombinant antigens
tion history should be administered two killed or two of FeLV without adjuvant. Because of difficulties in assessing
modified-live FVRCP doses 3 to 4 weeks apart. A booster efficacy studies performed with different experiment designs,
FVRCP vaccine should be administered 1 year later and then which FeLV vaccine is optimal is unclear. In one recent chal-
every 3 years, lifelong (Scherk et al., 2013). As previously lenge study, one killed product and the recombinant product
discussed, serologic test results for antibodies against FPV, performed similarly (Grosenbaugh et al., 2017). At the 2-year
FCV, and FHV-1 can be used to help determine vaccine challenge in one study, 83% of the vaccinated cats remained
needs (Lappin et al., 2002). FeLV-negative (Jirjis et al., 2010). The AAFP panel recom-
Some variants of FCV induce systemic vasculitis in cats mended vaccinating kittens for FeLV because they are more
(virulent systemic calicivirus; VS-FCV), and clinical signs susceptible than adult cats, and their housing status may not
can be severe in some cats even if previously vaccinated have been determined at that time. Although administration
with FVRCP vaccines (Hurley et al., 2004). An inactivated of FeLV vaccines does not block proviral integration, FeLV-
product containing two FCV strains, including a VS-FCV associated disease was lessened (Hofmann-Lehmann et al.,
strain, is now available in the United States (CaliciVax, 2007). FeLV vaccines are most indicated in cats allowed to
Elanco, Indianapolis, IN). Serum from cats vaccinated with go outdoors or those that are exposed to cats of unknown
this product has been shown to cross-neutralize more FCV FeLV status. Vaccinated cats should be administered two
field strains than serum from cats vaccinated with prod- vaccinations initially and a booster 1 year later if indicated
ucts containing only one FCV strain (Huang et al., 2010). by risk assessment. The AAFP Panel recommended 1-year