Does Perioperative Administration of Rabies Vaccine in Dogs Undergoing Surgical Sterilization Induce an Adequate Antibody Response?

Authors

  • A Peda Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Med-icine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • P Samaniego Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Med-icine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • C Daugherty Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Med-icine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • T Wood Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Med-icine, Auburn, AL, USA
  • C Wang Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Med-icine, Auburn, AL, USA
  • D Knobel Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56771/jsmcah.v3.93

Abstract

High-volume spay/neuter events may facilitate access to free-roaming dogs to admi-nister rabies vaccination, but important questions remain regarding the effect of surgery and anesthesia on the immune response to a vaccine administered in the perioperative period. This study evaluated the immunogenicity of primary rabies vaccination in dogs when administered during the immediate perioperative period at the time of surgical sterilization (ovariohysterectomy/orchidectomy).

Healthy dogs of both sexes presenting for surgical sterilization who had never been vaccinated against rabies virus were eligible for enrollment in the study. Fifty dogs ranging in age from 5 to 96 months were enrolled and were vaccinated against rabies virus during the recovery period following anesthesia and surgery. Rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers were measured preoperatively and 28 days postoperatively. This cohort was compared to a historical control cohort of 57 dogs who received primary rabies vaccination for travel purposes and had RVNA titers measured at the same laboratory as the study group 28-35 days post-vaccination.

After controlling for age and sex, there was no statistically significant difference in immunogenicity of a rabies vaccine administered to dogs during the perioperative period in comparison to dogs that received the rabies vaccine for travel alone in the absence of surgery. Perioperative administration of a rabies vaccine in dogs under-going surgical sterilization induces an adequate antibody response.

We recommend that rabies vaccine be administered perioperatively during spay/neuter campaigns in canine rabies endemic areas if other opportunities to ac-cess veterinary care and rabies vaccination are limited.

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Published

2024-05-20

How to Cite

Peda, A., Samaniego, P., Daugherty, C., Wood, T., Wang, C., & Knobel, D. (2024). Does Perioperative Administration of Rabies Vaccine in Dogs Undergoing Surgical Sterilization Induce an Adequate Antibody Response? . Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, 3(S1). https://doi.org/10.56771/jsmcah.v3.93

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Section

ABVP Abstracts