Companion Animal Vaccines
As with human diseases, it is also better to prevent our pets to catch diseases than to spend more on treatment. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) groups companion animal vaccines into two categories: core and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are recommended for all cats or dogs while non-core vaccines are administered based on risk factors (geographical area and pet’s lifestyle). The initial immunity provided by the mother’s milk only lasts for a few weeks thus, at 6 to 8 weeks of age, the pets should receive first rounds of vaccination.
Feline vaccines
|
Naïve kitten/Animals that have never been vaccinated |
| Core |
Combination: Panleukopenia virus (FPV), Feline Herpesvirus-1, Feline Calicivirus (FHV-1/FCV)
|
6 weeks |
| Core |
Rabies |
8-12 weeks |
| Non-core |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
8 weeks |
| Non-core |
Bordetella bronchiseptica |
8 weeks |
| Non-core |
Feline Leukemia Virus |
8-12 weeks |
| Non-core |
Chlamydophila felis |
9 weeks |
| Core |
Combination: Panleukopenia virus (FPV), Feline Herpesvirus-1, Feline Calicivirus (FHV-1/FCV) – 2nd injection |
10 weeks |
| Non-core |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (2nd injection) |
10 weeks |
| Non-core |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (3rd injection) |
12 weeks |
| Non-core |
Chlamydophila felis (2nd injection) |
13 weeks |
| Non-core |
Feline Leukemia Virus (2nd injection) |
12-16 weeks |
| Core |
Combination: Panleukopenia virus (FPV), Feline Herpesvirus-1, Feline Calicivirus (FHV-1/FCV) – 3rd injection |
14 weeks |
| Continued immunization for adult cat |
|
Core
|
Combination: Panleukopenia virus (FPV), Feline Herpesvirus-1, Feline Calicivirus (FHV-1/FCV)
|
Every 3 years |
|
Core
|
Rabies
|
Annual (or as required by regulations) |
| Non-core |
Feline Leukemia Virus |
Annual |
| Non-core |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
Annual |
| Non-core |
Chlamydophila felis |
Annual |
| Non-core |
Bordetella bronchiseptica |
Annual |
Canine vaccines
|
Naïve pup/Animals that have never been vaccinated
|
| Core |
Combination: Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza virus
|
6 weeks |
| Non-core |
Combination: Bordetella, parainfluenza virus |
8 weeks |
| Non-core |
Leptospira |
8-9 weeks |
| Non-core |
Canine Lyme disease |
8-9 weeks |
| Core |
Combination: Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza virus (2nd injection)
|
10 weeks |
| Non-core |
Leptospira (2nd injection)
|
10-11 weeks |
| Non-core |
Canine Lyme disease (2nd injection)
|
10-11 weeks |
| Core |
Rabies
|
12 weeks |
| Core |
Combination: Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza virus (3rd injection)
|
14 weeks |
| Continued immunization for adult dog |
| Core |
Combination: Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza virus (2nd injection)
|
Every 3 years |
| Core |
Rabies |
Annual or every three years (depending on product label) |
|
Non-core
|
Combination: Bordetella, parainfluenza virus |
Annual |
| Non-core |
Leptospira |
Annual |
| Non-core |
Canine Lyme Disease |
Annual |
Rabbit vaccines
|
Naive bunny/Animals that have never been vaccinated |
| Myxomatosis |
5 weeks |
| Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHD1) |
6-12 weeks |
| Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RHD2) |
6-12 weeks |
| RHD1 – 2nd injection |
10-16 weeks |
| Continued immunization for adult rabbit |
| Myxomatosis |
Annual |
| RHD1 |
Annual |
| RHD2 |
Annual (2 weeks from Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus vaccination)
|
Pet bird vaccines
|
Naive / Animals that have never been vaccinated
|
| Polyomavirus |
3 weeks |
| Polyomavirus – 2nd injection |
6-12 weeks |
| Continued immunization for adult rabbit |
| Polyomavirus |
Annual |
Cancer vaccines
A new neoantigen source has been recently discovered arising from RNA transcription and splicing errors. These frameshift neoantigens were demonstrated by Stephen Johnston and his team to offer partial protection in mouse models for melanoma and breast cancer. With these findings, a large canine cancer vaccine trial was initiated to test for broadly protective prophylactic cancer vaccine utilizing pooled frameshift neoantigens.
References:
-
American Animal Hospital Association (2018). Canine Vaccination Guidelines. Last accessed 31 July 2019 from http://www.mybhph.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/canine_vacc_guidelines.pdf
-
American Association of Feline Practitioners (2006). Feline Vaccination Guidelines. Last accessed 31 July 2019 from
https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/PracticeGuidelines/VaccinationGLS-summary.pdf
-
Australian Veterinary Association (2011). Vaccination of Rabbits and Ferrets. Last accessed 19 August 2019 from https://www.ava.com.au/policy-advocacy/policies/unusual-pets-and-avian/vaccination-of-rabbits-and-ferrets/
-
Shen, L., Zhang, J., Lee, H. et al. RNA Transcription and Splicing Errors as a Source of Cancer Frameshift Neoantigens for Vaccines. Sci Rep 9, 14184 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50738-4
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