From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-20 03:39:48 UTC
Subject: RE: Merial Vaccines - distemper
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <651609.1116560388395.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> <http://www.ezdogpark.com/vaccine.htm> http://www.ezdogpark.com/vaccine.htm
> - great news, lets hope they follow up with feret info!!!
Yes, studies really would help -- a LOT.
It is NOT known how long the vaccines protect ferrets.
Remember that not only do vaccines vary from vaccine to vaccine, but they vary in how long they protect among species. For example, one of the tested rabies vaccines which is fine for dogs and cats wound up providing protection against rabies for only 6 months in ferrets back when testing was occuring to lead to a USDA approved rabies vaccine for ferrets.
Nor have there yet been titer studies to show what titer levels mean in relation to protection in ferrets.
There have been ferrets who did contract CDV despite having had earlier vaccines -- and yes, that includes ones given at 6 months or later.
For those interested in the topic there is a lot in the FHL Archives on it. In fact, there was just recently another discussion on the topic.
What is needed on this score is to have the right studies done to know what sort of spacing is safe, or even if there is enough protection after vaccines have been given for a certain number of years to be able to stop vaccinating. Without those studies a person needs to be careful.