Effect of vaccination on parvovirus antigen testing in kittens.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and duration of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) vaccine-induced interference with fecal parvovirus diagnostic testing in cats.


METHODS
Prospective controlled study.


METHODS
Sixty-four 8- to 10-week-old specific-pathogen-free kittens.


METHODS
Kittens were inoculated once with 1 of 8 commercial multivalent vaccines containing modified-live virus (MLV) or inactivated FPV by the SC or intranasal routes. Feces were tested for parvovirus antigen immediately prior to vaccination, then daily for 14 days with 3 tests designed for detection of canine parvovirus. Serum anti-FPV antibody titers were determined by use of hemagglutination inhibition prior to vaccination and 14 days later.


RESULTS
All fecal parvovirus test results were negative prior to vaccination. After vaccination, 1 kitten had positive test results with test 1, 4 kittens had positive results with test 2, and 13 kittens had positive results with test 3. Only 1 kitten had positive results with all 3 tests, and only 2 of those tests were subjectively considered to have strongly positive results. At 14 days after vaccination, 31% of kittens receiving inactivated vaccines had protective FPV titers, whereas 85% of kittens receiving MLV vaccines had protective titers.


CONCLUSIONS
Animal shelter veterinarians should select fecal tests for parvovirus detection that have high sensitivity for FPV and low frequency of vaccine-related test interference. Positive parvovirus test results should be interpreted in light of clinical signs, vaccination history, and results of confirmatory testing. Despite the possibility of test interference, the benefit provided by universal MLV FPV vaccination of cats in high-risk environments such as shelters outweighs the impact on diagnostic test accuracy.
Patterson
Erin V
EV
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Reese
Michael J
MJ
Tucker
Sylvia J
SJ
Dubovi
Edward J
EJ
Crawford
P Cynda
PC
Levy
Julie K
JK
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005254:Feline Panleukopenia / Q000517:prevention & control; D028301:Feline Panleukopenia Virus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D008297:Male; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D017992:Parvovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014765:Viral Vaccines