Dog Community

Dodds: Titer Tests

Posted : 10/12/2012 9:31:20 AM

Avoid unnecessary vaccines with titer tests (Part III)[/b] by Dr. W. Jean Dodds 10/11/12 http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/33393350071/vaccines-titer-testing-animals

In my last two posts, I discussed the potential side-effects (vaccinosis) of over-vaccinating our pets, and the difference between MLV (modified live) and killed vaccines. I cautioned that dogs and cats with immune-mediated diseases are especially vulnerable to vaccinosis, since over-vaccination places additional stress on their already compromised immune systems and has been linked to autoimmune disease. So, then, what is the solution to this dilemma? How can you protect your pet from over-vaccination and the risk of contracting a life-threatening disease at the same time? Fortunately, the solution is simple and affordable. Titer tests.

What is a titer test?[/b]

A titer test is a simple blood test that measures a dog or cat’s antibodies to vaccine viruses (or other infectious agents). For instance, your dog may be more resistant to a virus whereas your neighbor’s dog may be more prone to it. [color=darkred]Titers accurately[/b] assess protection to the so-called “core” diseases (distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis in dogs, and panleukopenia in cats), enabling veterinarians to judge whether a booster vaccination is necessary. [/color] All animals can have serum antibody titers measured instead of receiving vaccine boosters. The only exception is rabies re-vaccination. There is currently no state that routinely accepts a titer in lieu of the rabies vaccine, which is required by law.

There are commercially available vaccine titer tests for dogs that can be performed in a laboratory or also in the veterinarian’s office for faster results. Several commercial and university veterinary diagnostic labs and Hemopet offer reliable titer testing for dogs, cats and horses.

What do I do if the titer shows that my pet has immunity?[/b]

If your pet’s titer levels show that an adequate immune memory has been established, you do not need to create the potential for vaccinosis by introducing unnecessary antigen, adjuvant, and preservatives into his body via booster vaccines. Instead, skip the boosters and have your dog re-titered in three years.

Are there downsides to titering?[/b]

There is no downside to titering your pet. However, [color=darkred] be aware that some veterinarians may be resistant to performing titer tests in lieu of vaccination. These veterinarians are misinformed and incorrectly believe that measuring an animal’s serum antibody titers is not a valid method of determining his immunity to infectious diseases, or that this testing is too costly. [/color]

With all due respect to these professionals, this represents a misunderstanding of what has been called the “fallacy of titer testing,” because research has shown that once an animal’s titer stabilizes, it is likely to remain constant for many years. Properly immunized animals have sterilizing immunity (immunity that prevents further infection even when an animal is exposed) that not only prevents clinical disease but also prevents infection, and only the presence of antibody can prevent infection.

As stated by the eminent expert Ronald Schultz, DVM of the University of Wisconsin in discussing the value of vaccine titer testing, “You should avoid vaccinating animals that are already protected, and titer testing can determine if adequate, effective immunity is present. It is often said that the antibody level detected is ‘only a snapshot in time.’ That’s simply not true; it is more a ‘motion picture that plays for years.’”

Furthermore, protection as indicated by a positive titer result is not likely to suddenly drop off unless an animal develops a severe medical condition or has significant immune dysfunction. It’s important to understand that viral vaccines prompt an immune response that lasts much longer than the immune response elicited by contracting the actual virus. Lack of distinction between the two kinds of responses may be why some practitioners think titers can suddenly disappear.

What if the titer test is negative?[/b]

Interpreting titers correctly depends upon the disease in question. Some titers must reach a certain level to indicate immunity, but with the clinically important “core” diseases vaccines, the presence of any measurable antibody indicates protection.

A positive titer test result is fairly straightforward, but a negative titer test result can be more difficult to interpret. This is because a negative titer is not the same thing as a zero titer, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal is unprotected. A negative result usually means that the titer has failed to reach a desired threshold antibody level, but a low titer may still mean that the dog is protected upon exposure, as it doesn’t reflect tissue levels of immunity.

What’s the bottom line on titers?[/b]

More than a decade of experience with vaccine titer testing and published studies in refereed journals show that 92 – 98% of dogs and cats that have been properly vaccinated develop good measurable antibody titers to the infectious agent measured. [color=darkred]In general, serum antibody titers to the “core” vaccines along with any natural exposures last a minimum of 7 – 9 years, and likely are present for life.[/color] This corresponds with what we see clinically, as the number of cases and deaths due to these diseases has decreased significantly in the vaccinated population.

The bottom line is that using vaccine titer testing as a means to assess vaccine-induced protection will likely result in your pet avoiding needless and potentially harmful booster vaccinations. And that is a huge benefit for a simple blood test!

calliecritturs

Posted : 10/12/2012 1:50:14 PM

Once again priceless information.

The one thing I would add -- I have now done titers annually for about 10 years. But when you get titers done every year (and I always do it at pretty much the same time of the year) -- you are actually building a valuable record that can show whether that titer is diminishing or not.

Some titers (like Antech's) are pretty much just "pass/fail" unfortunately. But the titer testing done by places like Hemopet and Cornell Vet School (in New York State) come back with numerical values so you can see year by year if the titer is staying constant or diminishing.

In cases where I was so bound by insurance regulations that at least enabled me to wait to booster the shots until it was absolutely needed, rather than having to do it pre-maturely.

What often occurs is if the animal is "exposed" but has been protected by vaccines, the body will bring antibodies out of it's cell memory and re-create them (making the titer then read high again). But in those cases where I had to rely on the "numbers" at least it enabled me to not have to booster until it was absolutely necessary to 'prove' immunity with the titers.

Freedom

Posted : 10/12/2012 3:04:29 PM

Down side to titer testing -- at least, at my vet:

$125 per titer per dog, so if I test for dhpp, that is 4 PER DOG. The vaccine is $25.

So I figure, they all had shots for years, they MUST be covered, and I am just maintaining the rabies as required by law.

calliecritturs

Posted : 10/12/2012 3:39:17 PM

It **should** be ONE price per dog. They will titer for parvo and distemper (that is ALL usually). They don't titer for the rest of the stuff and both of those are always (in my experience at various vets)

On Monday I'll go have blood drawn for titers on all 3 of my dogs. I already send the blood to Dr. Dodds to have the thyroid checked every year, I just add the titer to it, but you pay one price for the titers for each dog (not per disease).

No one titers for all the components in the "combo" shot. IN honesty, that's part of the problem -- most of what is in the combo shot isn't needed universally. As she said in the post -- things like lepto are confined to an area -- they haven't had lepto here where I am in many many years. Coronavirus lives IN parvo virus -- so if the dog is protected against parvo it won't get corona (because they get corona FROM parvo virus). Thats why the AAHA is saying corona isn't even a necessary shot for any dog.

I spent $15,000 on the first year of Billy's IMHA. Spending the money on titers to avoid over-vaccinating? it's a small price to pay to prevent vaccinosis IN CASES **where** you need to prove titers.

In your particular case. there is no reason FOR you to titer to be honest. You aren't using them for pet therapy where you have to "prove" vaccination and if I recall you don't kennel them either, right?? The biggest benefit to a titer is to avoid the need for vaccinating prior to having to kennel them or prove vaccination at dog events.

Freedom

Posted : 10/12/2012 6:00:19 PM

Oh goody, thanks for that Callie!

Willy is in Agility, and starts a class on Nose Work in 2 weeks. Riley is in Basic Manners, and starts Intro to Agility next week. No boarding; no pet therapy at this time, though I may get back in to that in future.