Antibody Titers

[Currmudgeon]

Many people are now advocating the use of titers in lieu of vaccination boosters to monitor their dogs' immune levels. I ran across the following article:


How good are antibody titers in “measuring” immunity in the individual patient?
Following the first iteration of the feline vaccination Guidelines there has been considerable interest expressed by the profession over using antibody titers to “measure immunity” in lieu of administering vaccine annually. Today, several laboratories provide antibody titers on individual patients for selected infections on a fee for service basis. However, there are some key points and limitations that must be addressed before offering such laboratory services to clientele.
First…serum antibody concentration is a relatively crude measure of immunity…especially for viral infections. For only a few viruses, there is a good correlation between a “positive” antibody titer and protection against infection. These include: canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and feline panleukopenia. Antibody titers can be measured for feline herpesvirus-1 and calicivirus but correlating serum levels with “immunity” is considerably more problematic. Measuring antibody against infections caused by coronavirus (feline and canine) or feline retroviruses (FeLV and FIV) are of no value in defining immunity.

Second…even for those infections in which antibody does correlate with protection, the absence of antibody (an obvious decision point in establishing the “need” to administer booster vaccine) does not necessarily correlate with susceptibility.

Third…there are no established test standards for measuring antibody titers in dogs and cats. In fact, one should expect, for the same serum sample sent to 2 different laboratories, 2 different reference ranges and 2 quite different antibody titers reported. For example, 1 laboratory will report a “positive” titer against canine parvovirus as > 1:80, while another laboratory reports a value of > 1:5 as “positive”. Interpreting test results can be confusing for the clinician. Attempting to explain confounding test results to clientele can be frustrating.

Still, it is being done. A small number of practices routinely perform titers on most or all dogs and cats presented for annual booster. The value in doing so is perhaps greatest with respect to understanding the level of antibody in the population of patients seen in the practice rather than actually establishing the “immune vs. not-immune” status of the individual patient. [/size]

www.dvmvac.com/HotTopic.html

How do you manage your dogs' immunization program?
What has been your experience with titers?

[remsmom]

I do not use vaccine..and I only use titers if I need to in an attempt to skirt the "no vax..no entry " type classes in my area. I think at least its something I can show them to prove I am a reliable dog owner and am not administering vax for a reason. I have doubts about their veracity and reliability..but most people just want to "see" something that assures them the dog is safe to allow in . I do not correct their impression ;D. My dogs are on a very limited vax schedule and I am so happy with their health I would not change what I do. I do work with a Holistic Vet.

[Mary]

I also do NOT vaccinate like most vets say to. I do this with my vets blessings. MY pups get only 1-2 shots, first one not given until 8 weeks of age. I don't give the rabies until pushing a year of age.

We have been into natural health for the dogs & ourselves for years. We've found that the vaccines compromise their own natural immune systems.

But rest assured I tell my puppy clients to FOLLOW their vets advise!

[Jody]

I also DO NOT vaccinate heavily.. I separate my pups shots.. I do not give any vaccine until at least 8 weeks. and then I give parvo only.. 2 weeks later.. a distemper only.. and I also give my first rabies shot at a year plus of age.

[lauren]

AS long as you compare the results with the numbers presented by the lab it is no big deal. Just like counting heads vs. counting feet to see how many dogs you have. Different numbers but same result.

Titers show that the animal is protected. Low titers mean that the animal may or may not be protected. They don't check for memory B cells, but are much better than yearly vaccination.

I don't titer Auster just because I would never vaccinate her again anyway. If I might revacc then I would START titering about 5 years post vacc based on current research.

In addition, older dogs (and immunocomproimised) don't respond as well to vaccs so they are of less use and supress the immune system for a time after vaccination, increasing the chances the dog will get sick.

[Norm]

Lauren,

Is there any data to support what you said about not vaccinating older dogs?

lauren said:

In addition, older dogs (and immunocomproimised) don't respond as well to vaccs so they are of less use and supress the immune system for a time after vaccination, increasing the chances the dog will get sick.

[lauren]

The article is in press as we type

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Article in Press, Corrected Proof

Effect of age on immune parameters and the immune response of dogs to vaccines: a cross-sectional study

Harm HogenEsch, , a, Steven Thompsonb, Anisa Dunhama, Michael Ceddiac and Michael Hayekc

a Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University, Veterinary Pathology Building, 725 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2027, USA
b Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2027, USA
c The IAMS Company, Lewisburg, OH, USA

Received 24 April 2003; revised 8 July 2003; accepted 12 August 2003. ; Available online 14 October 2003

Abstract
The evaluation of anti-aging intervention strategies in dogs would benefit from reliable quantitative biomarkers of aging. In the present study, the expression of various immune parameters was measured in young and old dogs to identify potential biomarkers of aging. The second goal of the study was to determine the effect of age on the immune response to vaccines. The immune function, including the antibody response to vaccines, was determined in 32 young adult (3.15±0.8 years of age) and 33 old dogs (12.1±1.3 years of age) of various breeds. Old dogs had a significantly lower lymphocyte proliferative response and a lower percentage of CD4+ T cells and CD45R+/CD4+ T cells, and a higher percentage of CD8+ T cells and a higher concentration of serum and salivary IgA. The most significant differences (P<0.001) occurred in the lymphocyte proliferative responses to ConA and PHA, the CD4:CD8 ratio, and the percentage of CD45R+/CD4+ T cells suggesting that these parameters are potential biomarkers of aging. There was no difference in the percentage of total T and B lymphocytes and the concentration of serum IgM and IgG. Both groups of dogs had protective titers against distemper virus, parvovirus and rabies virus before annual revaccination. The pre-vaccination titer against rabies virus was higher in the old dogs than in the young dogs, and there were no differences in post-vaccination titers against any of the viruses. This suggests that annual vaccination protocols provide adequate protection for old dogs

The abstract isn't really useful. You have to see the whole article with the charts and graphs of titer level changes to really appreciate the work. In the end they just confirm what my vet has noticed anyway: older dogs don't increase their titer levels nearly as much from a vacc as younger dogs do. Interpret as you wish, but I just take it to mean that unless immunity is low and risk of infection is high vaccines aren't worth the risk for older and immunocompromised dogs.

[Norm]

Thanks Lauren. I will copy that and give it to my vet to read. How much does it cost to get titers done? Is it an all inclusive thing or do you have to do it for every type of disease in your area?

[lauren]

Titers are only for a specific disease at a time, but most people find distemper/parvo titers to be enough. www.itsfortheanimals.com has an order form that you send with a prepared blood sample to Dr. Dodds (Hemopet). It's the cheapest price around.

Most of the diseases in a combo vaccine are either extremely rare or mild. I live in deer central and even here lepto isn't a problem (plus vacc doesn't provide cross strain protection so it is worthless). Coronavirus is a bad joke (doesn't even cause symptoms), etc.

At first yearly vaccs were thought to be useless, but now they are considered worse than that. Vaccines actually supress immune function (can provide journal article) and increase susceptability to disease for a time after administration.

[xoxogsd]

if we were to request titers, can they be performed on a juvenile dog? Case in point - my pup is 13 mo old and "due" for boosters, although I have been leaning heavily towards not vac. him. Can titers be done at this age?

[Chadsmom]

Yes If your dog is out and about daily eg walks, dog shows, going to parks etc he is being constantly exposed to whatever is out there. So you should be able to test his immunity level.

I am in the same position as you with my Chad. Chad just turned 12 months. He is out walking daily, park and the beach, training classes twice a week, goes to dog shows. I was going to titre test him but have decided against it because I am not going to give the booster vacc regardless.

I had 9 1/2 years of immune system problems with my last GSD Ace which was heart breaking at times. Ace was vaccinated every year until he was 5 when he was diagnoised with Poly Arthritis and then he went on to develope Pemphigus a horrid skin condition. Right now Chad is 100% healthy, is fed a raw diet ( BARF ) and I don't plan on giving him any more vaccinations.

[sandy]

I am just learning, so could you clear up a couple of things for me? If I decided not to get Elzie's boosters done at a year, I would have titers done and the results of that would suffice in covering the local rabies vaccination requirement? And that also works for covering the requirements for presenting 'proof of current vaccinations' that are required for various dog events?

Would someone mind sharing what the cost is to have titers done for the major vaccinations, rabies in particular? What other ones do you all recommend having checked in a young dog?

[Currmudgeon]

sandy said:

I would have titers done and the results of that would suffice in covering the local rabies vaccination requirement?

I haven't checked with the local health authorities, but I would say almost certainly not. I'd bet dinner on it. Rabies vaccination is a matter of law, and the local authorities nave no leeway. Considering the risk of transmitting a frequently fatal disease to humans, they will be very conservative in this area.