ASSESSMENT OF HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE IN VACCINATED DOMESTIC DOGS AND CATS INTENDED FOR PET-TRAVEL FROM INDIA BY RAPID FLORESCENT FOCUS INHIBITION TEST (RFFIT)

Abstract

The present study evaluates Immoral response in vaccinated domestic dogs and cats intended for pet travel from India by Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT). In present study, 184 serum samples from dogs (n=149) and cats (n=35). vaccinated within the period of one year against rabies were tested by RFFIT using PV-3462 strain of rabies virus and BHK 21 cells. Out of total studied 149 dogs samples (male-96, female-53), 122 showed titre >= 0.5 IU/till and 27 below <0.5 IU/till. Interestingly, all the 35 samples from cats showed titre >= 0.5 IU/till. The protection observed in vaccinated dogs was 81.87 per cent and in vaccinated cats it was 100 per cent. The analysis showed serum sampling between 20-50 days will have higher percentage of vaccinates with neutralizing antibody titre >= 0.5 IU / ml than those collected < 20 days and > 50 days. Association of the age factor of the vaccinated dogs and getting varied neutralizing antibody titre was evident. Whereas gender and breed based on size did not reveal any statistically significant effect on antibody titre. Furthermore, Out of eight vaccine brands, only one (V8) yielded 100 percent (9/9) protection, whereas the remaining seven resulted in 61.53 (8/13 in V1) to 90.90 (10/11 in V6) percent protection. The failure to protect 18.13 (27 / 149) per cent of dogs even after vaccination is alarming. The exact cause for failure to protect these vaccinated dogs is unknown; the possible reasons could be attributed to age, genetic profile, and brand of vaccine used and non-maintenance of cold chain of vaccine / sample of animal.