Rabies Vaccine Efficacy Might Last Longer Than we Thought

This finding could help veterinarians manage owners of horses that have reacted adversely to the vaccine in the past.
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The rabies vaccine we use in horses might be an oldie, but it’s still a goodie—and it could be even better than we thought, said David Wilson, BVMS, MS, Hon Dipl. ACVIM, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. In recent research he’s found that it might protect horse from the fatal infection for longer than previously thought.

Wilson presented the results of his study at the 2016 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 3-7 in Orlando, Florida.

The AAEP classifies the rabies vaccine as one its core vaccines, recommending that every horse in the United States be inoculated with it annually. That same rabies vaccine (IMRAB 3 by Merial, which can be used in six species: dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, cattle, and sheep) only needs to be administered once every three years in dogs and cats.

“Studies in dogs and cats demonstrated that the antibodies produced in response to the IMRAB 3 rabies vaccine exceed protective levels for a prolonged period, allowing the vaccine to be labeled for three years instead of one,” said Wilson. “Similar studies in horses have not yet been performed,” he added. “Until we document a prolonged persistence of rabies virus antibodies in horses following vaccination, it is impossible to recommend vaccinating horses every three years like we do for dogs and cats

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Written by:

Stacey Oke, MSc, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. She is interested in both large and small animals, as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Since 2005, she’s worked as a research consultant for nutritional supplement companies, assisted physicians and veterinarians in publishing research articles and textbooks, and written for a number of educational magazines and websites.

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