Tail vaccination in cats: a pilot study

Feline injection site sarcomas affect 1–10 cats per every 10,000 vaccinated and are associated with high mortality. Radical resection may be curative, but is often associated with prolonged recovery, disfigurement and loss of function when tumors occur at currently recommended injection sites. The o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of feline medicine and surgery Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 275 - 280
Main Authors:	Hendricks, Cleon G, Levy, Julie K, Tucker, Sylvia J, Olmstead, Shaye M, Crawford, P Cynda, Dubovi, Edward J, Hanlon, Cathleen A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London, England SAGE Publications 01-04-2014
Subjects:	Animals Cats Feline Panleukopenia - prevention & control Female Immunization - veterinary Male Original Rabies - prevention & control Rabies - veterinary Tail Vaccination - adverse effects Vaccination - veterinary Viral Vaccines - administration & dosage Viral Vaccines - immunology
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Summary:	Feline injection site sarcomas affect 1–10 cats per every 10,000 vaccinated and are associated with high mortality. Radical resection may be curative, but is often associated with prolonged recovery, disfigurement and loss of function when tumors occur at currently recommended injection sites. The objective of this study was to assess alternatives to currently recommended vaccination sites in terms of preference by oncology practitioners, ease of injection and serological responses. Surgical, radiation and medical oncology practitioners were surveyed regarding their preference for vaccination sites based on the ease of tumor resection. A six-point Likert scale was used to measure each cat’s behavioral reaction to vaccination when injected subcutaneously in the distal hind limb or the distal tail. Serum collected before and 1–2 months after vaccination was tested for antibody titers against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and rabies virus (RV). The preferred sites for vaccination by 94 oncology practitioners were below the stifle (41%) and the tail (30%). There were no significant differences in the cats’ behavioral reaction to vaccination below the stifle (n = 31) and in the distal tail (n = 29). Of the cats seronegative for FPV at the time of vaccination, 100% developed protective antibody titers (≥40) against FPV 1–2 months following vaccination. For cats seronegative for RV, all but one cat (tail vaccine) developed acceptable antibody titers (≥0.5 IU/ml) against RV. Tail vaccination was well tolerated and elicited similar serological responses to vaccination in the distal limbs.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1098-612X 1532-2750 1532-2750
DOI:	10.1177/1098612X13505579