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Subject: Ft Dodge Equine Vaccine:Effects Pregnant Mares? (2)
Date:
July 27, 2003
Posted by:
Zdenek Hubalek <zhubalek@brno.cas.cz>
ProMed
Forwarded from ProMED-mail (Id: 20030726.1830) [edited by WNV-L] [1] Date: 25 July 2003 From: Zdenek Hubalek <zhubalek@brno.cas.cz> The problem of West Nile virus (WNV) infections of horses in the USA seems to be aggravated, in that more than 10 000 horses were reported ill due to WNV in 2002. If the present Fort Dodge vaccine might cause problems in pregnant mares (a question: is this an inactivated or attenuated WNV vaccine?), why not test (and eventually use) in mares the available Japanese encephalitis vaccine, which should cross-protect mammals against WNV infection? For details, see Viral Immunology vol. 13 (2000), no.4: p. 421. Zdenek Hubalek Medical Zoology Laboratory Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences Klasterni 2, CZ-69142 Valtice Czech Republic <zhubalek@brno.cas.cz> [ProMED moderator response: The Fort Dodge equine vaccine is an inactivated preparation that is effective and safe, but requires administration in 2 doses to achieve an adequate level of protection. No live attenuated vaccine is available at the present time. Although all members of the family _Flaviviridae_ exhibit antigenic cross-reactivity, there is little evidence that cross-protection occurs to any significant extent. Even viruses closely related by phylogeny -- such as the different serotypes of dengue virus -- fail to provide significant cross-protection. It is extremely unlikely that a live attenuated vaccine developed for control of Japanese encephalitis in the human population would have any application in the control of WNV disease in equines. [2] Stephanie Church, news editor of "The Horse.com: Your Guide to Equine Health Care," did an excellent article on 9 Jun 2003 on the US WNV vaccine and its alleged affects on mare reproduction: http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.asp?fid=4440&dpt=5&n=&case=2 She points out the thousands to millions of doses of vaccine that have been used successfully to protect horses without adverse effects. This article also describes the experience of some of the largest equine veterinary clinics in the United States, who indicate they have not had problems with the vaccine. - Mods.CP/TG] [see also: West Nile virus vaccine, equine safety - USA 20030724.1806 2001 ---- West Nile virus, equine vaccine (02): 20010808.1867 West Nile virus, equine vaccine 20010804.1533 West Nile virus surveillance 2001 - USA (15) 20010804.1532] ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at http://www.promedmail.org. Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help, etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a human being send mail to: owner-majordomo@promedmail.org. --- end forwarded text -- Environmental Risk Analysis Program Department of Communication and Center for the Environment 213 Rice Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, New York USA 14853 Phone: (607) 255-4765 Fax: (607) 255-0238 Email: envrisk@cornell.edu Web: http://environmentalrisk.cornell.edu
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