| Williams J, Gray AW and Jacobs AAC (2002) A novel intranasal vaccine against feline bordetellosis: efficacy and duration of immunity studies The Veterinary Record 150:439-442 Abstract: A novel intranasal vaccine against disease caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) in cats was tested in a series of 3 experiments. In the first experiment a vaccinated group and unvaccinated control group of kittens were challenged by the aerosol route with virulent B. bronchiseptica 3 weeks after vaccination. Control kittens developed upper respiratory tract signs typical of feline B. bronchiseptica infection including rhinitis, ocular and serous nasal discharge, fever, sneezing and coughing. Clinical signs were significantly reduced in the vaccinate group as compared to controls. The mean clinical score for the cats in the unvaccinated control group was 19.5 ± 5.4 while the mean scores for the vaccinated group was 1.53 ± 1.9 (a reduction in clinical score of 92%, p≤0.0001). In the second experiment vaccinated kittens were challenged with virulent B. bronchiseptica at 72 hours post-vaccination. An additional control group was challenged unvaccinated. The mean clinical score of the control group was 13.45 ± 3.33 as compared to 2.76 ± 2.62 for the 72 hour vaccinates (a 79% reduction, p≤0.0001). In the final experiment vaccinated and unvaccinated control cats were challenged at 6 or 12 months post-vaccination. The mean clinical scores for the 6 month challenge was: 13.92 ± 4.7 for the control group as compared to 1.33 ± 1.56 for the vaccinate group (a 90% reduction, p≤0.0001). The mean clinical score for the 12 month challenge was: 9.92 ± 5.79 for the control group as compared to 0.92 ± 0.89 for the vaccinate group (also a 90% reduction, p≤0.0001). These data show that intranasal vaccination with a modified live vaccine can protect cats within 72 hours and for at least 1 year against disease caused by B. bronchiseptica infection. |