title: Utility of two modified-live virus canine distemper vaccines in wild-caught fishers (Martes pennanti).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects families in the order Carnivora. As a preventive measure, vaccinations against CDV are frequently given to mustelids in captive environments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objectives were to compare the utility between two modified-live virus canine distemper vaccines (MLV CDV's), Fervac-D® (no longer manufactured) and Galaxy-D® (now manufactured by MSD Animal Health as part of a multivalent vaccine), in developing an immune response in wild-caught fishers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Pennsylvania Fisher Reintroduction Project (PFRP) used 14 wild-caught fishers during one year of the project to evaluate the utility of vaccinations against CDV as part of any reintroduction project. Fishers were injected subcutaneously in the nape of the neck with their designated vaccine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fervac-D® did not effectively stimulate development of a serologic antibody response, whereas Galaxy-D® had adequate seroconversion or rise of titer levels to suggest that the general use of MLV CDV may be suitable in fishers pending further studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that future studies be conducted, evaluating the use of currently produced vaccines in fishers. Future research should also focus on the length of days required between administration of primary and booster vaccines to achieve sufficient immune response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If only primary doses are required, then hard-release reintroduction projects for fishers could be recommended. If primary and booster vaccines are required then soft-release reintroduction projects should be recommended that include captive management periods, allowing for appropriate vaccination intervals needed to maximize the probability of protection against CDV.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology and Natural Resources , Frostburg State University , Frostburg , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Steven T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Peper
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory Animal Resources , Indiana University , Bloomington , IN , USA.
authors.forename: Randall L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Peper
authors.affiliation: c Department of Geography , Pennsylvania State University , University Park, PA , USA.
authors.forename: Denise H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Mitcheltree
authors.affiliation: d College of Veterinarian Medicine, Cornell University , Ithaca , NY , USA.
authors.forename: George V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Kollias
authors.affiliation: c Department of Geography , Pennsylvania State University , University Park, PA , USA.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology and Natural Resources , Frostburg State University , Frostburg , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Sadie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology and Natural Resources , Frostburg State University , Frostburg , MD , USA.|e Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences Graduate Program , University of Maryland , College Park , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Serfass
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004216:Distemper / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D045969:Mustelidae; D009513:New Hampshire; D010414:Pennsylvania; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: Canine distemper virus; Fisher; Martes pennanti; Morbillivirus; vaccination