A field trial to assess the effect of vaccination against feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline panleucopenia virus in 6-week-old kittens.
A trivalent (feline panleucopenia, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus), modified live, commercially available cat vaccine was used at either 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age (early schedule) or 9 and 12 weeks of age (conventional schedule), and the serological response to vaccination was assessed. The level of maternally derived antibody present at 6 weeks of age was also established. The use of early vaccination at 6 weeks of age induced an antibody response to each virus by 9 weeks of age in a significant proportion of kittens compared with unvaccinated littermates. There was no difference between the conventionally and early-vaccinated groups in terms of antibody response to any antigen by 12 and 15 weeks of age.
Dawson
S
S
Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK.
Willoughby
K
K
Gaskell
R M
RM
Wood
G
G
Chalmers
W S
WS
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D005254:Feline Panleukopenia / Q000517:prevention & control; D028301:Feline Panleukopenia Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D018140:Varicellovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines