From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2001-12-14 17:02:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 513
In a message dated 12/14/01 7:04:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
I would like to ask what? on distemper titers they DO know - I
know a
shelter vet DR XXX in TX who sent blood out in a distemper case
and they
can identify titers from vaccination exposure, post exposure to
live virus,
etc. If this cannot be identified - then I would like to know how
they can
rate exposure from the titer tests . IS this not how the vaccine
trials
utilize the efficacy ratings?
Well, what we do know is that a titer from an animal that has been
exposed to the virus is a lot higher than an animal that has been
vaccinated. What we do not know is what level of protection a titer
in a vaccinated animal indicates. For instance, if we have a titer
that is at a certain level, does that mean the animal is protected
against distemper or not? We just do not have enough data to
determine that. I personally feel that the vaccines are protective
for more than a year. But I do not *know* that, and I refuse to
risk my ferrets to a fatal disease. So I vaccinate them, and I
recommend annual vaccination. I will continue to do this until we
have more proof about the duration of immunity produced by the
vaccine extending beyond one year.
And I'm afraid that the rabies immunity levels extending to three
years were not done by measuring titers, but rather by conducting
tests which involved exposing vaccinated animals to rabies, and
seeing if they came down with the disease, not by measuring titer
levels.
Dr. Ruth
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Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.