DISEASE INFORMATION FACT SHEET Rabies

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Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2013) 15 , Supplementary File FACT SHEET

This Disease Information Fact Sheet accompanies the 2013 AAFP Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel Report published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2013), Volume 15, pp 785 –808.

AAFP FELINE VACCINATION ADVISORY PANEL Margie A Scherk Disease facts DVM Dip ABVP The 2013 Report of the Feline Vaccination (Feline Practice) Advisory Panel of the American Association of Advisory Panel Chair* Rabies virus is shed in the saliva of rabid ani - Feline Practitioners (AAFP) provides practical Richard B Ford recommendations to help clinicians select DVM MS Dip ACVIM mals and is most commonly transmitted by DACVPM (Hon) bites. No feline variant of rabies virus exists; appropriate vaccination schedules for their all cases of rabies in cats are a result of feline patients based on risk assessment. Rosalind M Gaskell BVSc PhD MRCVS spillover from other reservoir species, includ - The recommendations rely on published data ing wildlife and dogs. The typical incubation as much as possible, as well as consensus of a Katrin Hartmann multidisciplinary panel of experts in immunology, Dr Med Vet Dr Med Vet Habil period in cats is 2 months (range 2 weeks to Dip ECVIM-CA longer than 1 year), followed by the develop - infectious disease, internal medicine and clinical practice. The Report is endorsed by the Kate F Hurley ment of clinical signs. The furious form of DVM MPVM rabies is most common in cats, with death International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM). coming within 10 days of clinical signs. There Michael R Lappin DVM PhD Dip ACVIM are no ante-mortem diagnostic tests for rabies. Julie K Levy Although cat-to-human transmission of rabies DVM PhD Dip ACVIM is rare, cat bite injuries are a common reason 1 Onset and duration of immunity Susan E Little for post-exposure prophylaxis. In regions DVM Dip ABVP (Feline Practice) where canine rabies has been controlled, such Shila K Nordone as the USA and Canada, cats may be the most In most locations where feline rabies vacci - MS PhD 2 commonly affected domestic species. nation is required, cats are generally consid - Andrew H Sparkes Vaccine types ered to be immunized against rabies at 28 BVetMed PhD DipECVIM days following administration of a single, MRCVS initial dose. A rabies antibody titer cannot *Corresponding author: Two types of parenteral rabies vaccines are be used as an index of immunity in cats or Email: [email protected] available for cats. Inactivated whole virus dogs. Currently, feline rabies vaccines are vaccines with adjuvant are available from available with labels for 1 and 3 year dura - multiple suppliers and provide durations of tions of immunity. In locations that require immunity of 1 or 3 years and are labeled for vaccination of cats against rabies, revaccina - use as early as 12 weeks/3 months of age. tion with a single dose of rabies vaccine is A recombinant canarypox virus-vectored typically required within 1 year following vaccine without additional adjuvant provides administration of the initial dose, regardless immunity for 1 year and is labeled for use as of the cat’s age at the time of initial vaccina - early as 12 weeks of age. tion and regardless of whether the vaccine

Other vaccine considerations used was licensed as a 1 year vaccine or a 3 year vaccine. A rapid anamnestic response is expected in cats receiving a booster inocula - Rabies vaccines have not been tested for effica - tion. Following revaccination, cats are consid - cy in non-domestic species. In some jurisdic - 3 ered to be immediately immunized. Cats that tions, non-domestic felids and their hybrids are overdue for a booster vaccine (either a 1 may not be considered adequately vaccinated 3 year or 3 year vaccine) should be revaccinated against rabies. Requirements for rabies vacci - with a single dose of vaccine as soon as possi - nation, serological testing and quarantine for ble. If a cat is revaccinated later than recom - international travel vary widely depending on mended, local statutes may dictate whether the origin and destination countries. Cat own - the cat is considered to be properly vaccinated ers and their veterinarians should allow ample and protected from infection or not. time to become familiar, and comply, with Vaccine safety regulations for transporting cats. Advisory Panel Recommendations

The absence of live rabies virus in currently Vaccination against rabies is considered core wherever rabies infection is used vaccines precludes any concerns regard - endemic in any species or vaccination is mandated by law. Kittens should be ing reversion to virulence. Cats with a history first vaccinated at 12 weeks/3 months of age. Regardless of the age at first of feline injection-site sarcoma believed to be vaccination, a booster should be administered 1 year later. Booster products associated with a rabies vaccine should not should not be used more frequently than the labeled duration of immunity. be revaccinated. Local rabies ordinance or statutes may apply.

References 2 Blanton JD, Palmer D, Dyer J and Rupprecht CE. Rabies surveillance in the United States during 1 Frymus T, Addie D, Belak S, Boucraut-Baralon 2010. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011; 239: 773 –783. C, Egberink H, Gruffydd-Jones T, et al. Feline 3 Brown CM, Conti L, Ettestad P, Leslie MJ, rabies. ABCD guidelines on prevention and Sorhage FE and Sun B. Compendium of Animal management. J Feline Med Surg 2009; 11: Rabies Prevention and Control, 2011. J Am Vet 585 –593. Med Assoc 2011; 239: 609 –617.

DISEASE INFORMATION FACT SHEETS SUPPLEMENTARY FILES < Feline herpesvirus 1 Fact Sheets accompanying the < Feline calicivirus 2013 AAFP Feline Vaccination Advisory < Feline panleukopenia Panel Report are available, Rabies together with the Pet Owner Guide < included in Appendix 2, at < Feline leukemia virus http://jfms.com < Feline immunodeficiency virus DOI: 10.1177/1098612X13495235 < Feline infectious peritonitis < Chlamydophila felis < Bordetella bronchiseptica

GENERAL INFORMATION FACT SHEET PET OWNER GUIDE < The immune response to (APPENDIX 2, pp 807 –808) vaccination: a brief review < Vaccinations for Your Cat

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2013) 15 , Supplementary File