Titer Test

[NorthernStarPits]

I know many are aware of this testing, but others may not be aware about these things, so thought i would post it up as a general reference

Testing a dog’s serum antibody titers can prevent overvaccinating.

Few issues in veterinary medicine are as controversial as the debate about administering annual vaccinations to our dogs. Long considered part of the standard of baseline, responsible veterinary healthcare, and credited with conquering some of the fiercest canine viral and other infectious diseases, vaccinations now are also suspected of creating vulnerability to illnesses and chronic conditions such as anemia, arthritis, seizures, allergies, gastrointestinal and thyroid disorders, and cancer. As we’ve previously discussed in numerous articles, few people advocate refraining from the use of vaccinations altogether, but increasing numbers of veterinary experts recommend administering fewer vaccines to our dogs than was suggested in recent years. The current wisdom is to vaccinate our animal companions enough, but not too much. Does this seem a little arbitrary? It could, especially since the veterinary profession lacks complete information about exactly how long the effects of canine vaccines last. (We bet you thought that most vaccines “last” about a year, which is why you are supposed to bring your dog to the vet for more shots every year, right? Well, you’re wrong, and we’ll explain why below.) Fortunately, there is a tool that veterinarians and dog owners can use to determine whether or not a dog really needs further vaccination at any given time. It’s called a “titer test,” and it’s readily available, not terribly expensive, and offers multiple advantages over the practices (intentional or not) of over-vaccination and under-vaccination. To understand what a titer test is and what it can do for you and your dog, you need a little background information about vaccinations and their use.

History of “recommended vaccine schedules”

As lifesaving vaccines for various canine diseases have been developed over the last 50 years, veterinarians and dog owners gladly embraced them. Many diseases were prevented, and a new industry was born. Like any industry, it soon set about making itself indispensable. Increasingly, veterinarians were sold on the concept that if some vaccines are good, more are better – for their patients and their bottom line. So it came to pass that for decades, vets followed the label recommendations directing that canine vaccines be administered annually. In the late 1970s, a deadly parvovirus epidemic killed thousands of dogs and wiped out whole litters of puppies, eventually halted by the mass administration of the parvovirus vaccine. This episode emphasized the important role of vaccinations in canine healthcare and labeled veterinarians who challenged the annual administration of vaccines as mutinous. And there was, in fact, a small population of insurgent veterinarians who had doubts about the necessity of frequent vaccination. Many holistic practitioners – who often see patients with complex, mystifying symptoms of poor health, patients who have not been helped or even diagnosed by conventionally trained veterinarians – suspected a link between vaccines and immune disorders. In their minds, it was easy to surmise that there might be a connection between agents that are designed to provoke an immune response and their patients’ poor or inappropriate immune responses. But while drug companies are motivated to fund studies that can develop more vaccines they can sell for a profit, they are understandably disinclined to spend money on studies that may discover their products’ potential for harm, or how few vaccines our companion animals really need for disease protection. As a result, only anecdotal evidence provided by “vaccine rebels” – owners and veterinarians who either do not vaccinate or vaccinate on a reduced schedule – seemed to suggest that dogs and cats might be better off receiving fewer vaccines. But until recently there was little scientific evidence that supported this idea, perhaps none that was accepted in the conventional university veterinarian research community. Then, in the early 1990s, laboratory researchers at the University of Pennsylvania noticed a connection between the marked increase in the number of sarcomas, or cancerous tumors, under the skin at the site of rabies vaccine administration in cats. Later, researchers at the University of California at Davis noted that feline leukemia vaccines seemed to cause the same results. Taken aback by the inflammatory nature of the animals’ reaction to the vaccines, veterinary researchers began to suspect that immediate reactions to vaccinations, delayed reactions to vaccinations, or the combined effects of multiple vaccinations, could be risk factors for other ailments and chronic diseases in cats and dogs. As vaccines and their long-term effects became a (at least minor) topic of mainstream veterinary interest, one small but important fact came to light: there is no universally accepted “standard vaccination protocol” that has the approval of say, the American Veterinary Medical Association and/or the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The prevailing vaccination recommendations and schedules that most veterinarians and veterinary colleges recommend have been based on the research and suggestions of the manufacturers – not on independent scientific research. This point had long been recognized by the vaccine rebels, but disregarded by most conventional veterinarians.

Why more is not better

Jean Dodds, DVM, a highly respected veterinary hematologist, and founder and president of the nonprofit Hemopet, a California-based animal blood bank, pioneered the vaccine debate decades ago and is now considered one of the leading authorities on canine vaccine protocols. According to Dr. Dodds, many recent studies confirm that the vast majority of dogs, in most cases at least 95 percent of the subjects, retain immunity after vaccination for many years after the administration of a vaccine. She states that the “evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders (vaccinosis) is compelling.” Adverse reactions to conventional vaccines can be the same as reactions to any chemicals, drugs, or infectious agents. Immediate (or anaphylactic) reactions can occur in the 24-48 hours following exposure to the vaccine. Delayed reactions can occur 10-45 days after receiving vaccines. Symptoms include fever, stiffness, sore joints, abdominal tenderness, nervous system disorders, susceptibility to infections, and hemorrhages or bruising. Transient seizures can appear in puppies and adults. More long-term harmful effects can result in permanent damage to the dog’s immune system, which increases the dog’s susceptibility to chronic, debilitating diseases affecting the blood, endocrine organs, joints, skin, central nervous system, liver, kidneys, and bowel. In addition, vaccines can overwhelm a chronically ill dog, or a dog that has a genetic predisposition to react adversely to viral exposure, even from the modified live viral agents or killed virus in vaccines. So, given the possible health risks of administering too many vaccines, especially when a dog likely retains the immunologic protection supplied by previous vaccinations, how can a responsible dog owner decide on a safe and effective vaccine schedule for the life of their dog? As we suggested earlier, the answer is titer tests.

Understanding titer tests

The term “titer” refers to the strength or concentration of a substance in a solution. When testing vaccine titers in dogs, a veterinarian takes a blood sample from a dog and has the blood tested for the presence and strength of the dog’s immunological response to a viral disease. If the dog demonstrates satisfactory levels of vaccine titers, the dog is considered sufficiently immune to the disease, or possessing good “immunologic memory,” and not in need of further vaccination against the disease at that time.

Using the new TiterCHEKTM test kit, your veterinarian can now draw blood from your dog when you first arrive for his annual health exam, and within 15 minutes, be able to tell you whether or not he needs any vaccines.

Titer tests do not distinguish between the immunity generated by vaccination and that generated by natural exposure to disease agents. A dog may have developed immunity to a viral disease by receiving a vaccine against the disease, by being exposed to the disease in the natural environment and conquering it, sometimes without having demonstrated any symptoms of exposure to the disease, or by a combination of the two. Therefore, titer tests really measure both the “priming of the pump” that comes from vaccines, and the immunity resulting from natural exposure to disease during a dog’s lifetime. Only an indoor dog that has been totally sequestered from the natural environment is likely to have developed all of its immunity from vaccinations. Although the magnitude of immunity protection received by vaccination only is usually lower than by vaccination plus exposure, it doesn’t matter how your dog developed its strong immunity to specific viral diseases, as long as the immunity is present. By “titering” annually, a dog owner can assess whether her dog’s immune response has fallen below adequate levels. In that event, an appropriate vaccine booster can be administered.

Which titers tests?

Some dog owners, aware that there are dozens of vaccines available, are concerned that they would need to order titer tests for each vaccine. Actually, measuring the titers for just two vaccines, according to Dr. Dodds, can offer the dog owner a reliable “picture” of the dog’s immunological status. Good immunity to canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), she says, indicates proper “markers for the competence of the dog’s immune system.” Although the laboratories will also perform vaccine titer tests for other canine diseases, such as coronavirus and Lyme, Dr. Dodds deems these tests a waste of money. Protection from coronavirus, Dr. Dodds explains, depends on the current state of health of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, not on what’s in the dog’s blood, so serum tests are not conclusive. Lyme is regionally based and not a significant threat to the general canine population, so only dogs in a high-risk environment need titer testing for Lyme. Dr. Dodds emphasizes that titer testing is not a “guess” at immunological response in a dog; when dealing with CDV and CDP, there is absolute correlation between certain high titer values and what is frequently referred to as “protection” from the diseases in question. In this case, the animal’s owner and veterinarian can feel quite confident that the animal possesses sufficient resources for fighting off a disease challenge. When the tests reveal that the animal has borderline or low titer values, the owner and veterinarian should consider revaccinating and then testing the titers again. It may turn out that the animal simply needed a booster to stimulate a stronger immune response. Or, maybe the people involved learn that the animal lacks the ability to respond normally to vaccines, that is, by mounting a proper immune response. In this case, the owner and veterinarian have gained very valuable information about the dog’s compromised immune status – information they never would have gained by simply vaccinating and assuming the dog was “protected” as is usually the case with healthy dogs. As you can see, in reality, simply administering vaccines to dogs every year is more of a guessing game than using titer tests to learn about the dog’s immune competence. Studies worldwide support titer test results as comprehensive information about a dog’s immunological response capabilities.

Now more affordable

Because the more widely recognized benefits of titer testing have caused an increase in the number of titer tests performed at veterinary laboratories, the price is coming down and the tests are available from a wide range of providers. Veterinary laboratories offer traditional vaccine titer testing by looking at a blood sample from a dog and identifying a specific level of actual immunity in the dog. Reputable laboratories use commonly accepted immunological techniques that have been validated against original test techniques and found to be accurate. Be certain your veterinarian sends blood samples to a major professional veterinary laboratory such as Antech Diagnostics (www.antechdiagnostics.com), Idexx Laboratories (www.idexx.com), Vita-Tech Laboratories (www.vita-tech.com), or one of the major university veterinary laboratories, including Cornell, Colorado State, Michigan State, Tufts, and Texas A&M. In early spring 2002, Synbiotics Corporation, a San Diego-based manufacturer of diagnostic materials and instrumentation for the veterinary market, rolled out an innovative tool that should make titer testing even more readily available and affordable. TiterCHEKTM is the first in-office titer test licensed by the USDA for use in veterinary clinics. TiterCHEKTM tests titers for canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus, registering the degree of strength of the immune response in varying color shades. If the test results denote a weak immune response level, blood samples can be sent to a veterinary laboratory for more comprehensive testing. Dr. Dodds estimates that more than 95 percent of in-office tests will indicate a satisfactory immune response present in a dog that has received its puppy vaccinations and one-year boosters, so follow-up is rarely required. Expect to pay your veterinarian from $40 to $100 for CDV and CPV titer testing from a laboratory, and slightly less for an in-office test, for which your veterinarian must purchase the TiterCHEKTM test kit.

Resisting vaccine titer testing

As practicing clinicians, veterinarians are hesitant to adjust any clinical regimen they have adopted until they see research study data that they judge to be functional and applicable in the real world. Many veterinarians resisted rethinking the annual canine vaccine regimen based upon the early findings of researchers. However, the increased evidence linking over-vaccination to acute and chronic diseases in dogs has finally caused a mainstream conviction that vaccination protocols are not a one-size-fits-all healthcare decision. Indeed, Dr. Dodds, once considered a rebel by the veterinary profession, now speaks to standing-room-only audiences at the most prestigious professional conferences in the country. The perceived need for annual vaccinations used to motivate many dog owners to make appointments with their veterinarians for their dog’s annual wellness checkup. Veterinarians now hope that annual titer tests will perform a similar function. Having your dog examined by a veterinarian at least once a year is critically important for detecting, preventing, and treating any diseases or other ailments as early as possible. Adding the ability to check your dog’s immunological health and custom-tailor his vaccine schedule to his actual needs will impressively augment this important task. It has been estimated that only about 60 percent of pet dogs receive the minimum disease prevention vaccination protocol. Ironically, in an attempt to provide their beloved animal companions with the best possible care, many highly motivated owners arrange for their dogs to receive several times the necessary dose of vaccinations, to the point of risking the adverse effects of over-vaccination on the health of the dog’s immune system. Consumers who do care about managing the effectiveness of their dog’s immune system against the most dangerous canine viral diseases now have the means to do so without risking their dog’s health in the process. When you and your dog visit your veterinarian for an annual checkup, take the titer test.

source: Whole Dog Journal

Edited February 3, 2007 by s~M~s

[Staff'n'Toller]

Is this article free information or did you pay for it?

If you paid for it I would think you were breaching copyright. Just don't want you to get into any trouble.

Mel.

[haven]

If anyone knows of anyone who actully does this in Melbourne I'd really appreciate the info

[CavsRcute]

I am in Sydney and my vet made enquiries for me about titre testing. There are 2 companies she found. From memory one is in WA and the other is ?. I will try and find out again where it is. I think she said it was about $150.00 for the test. I will be getting my 4 year old Cav titre tested next time.She also offered me the 3 year injection, which I have never been offered before

[fluffy2]

Does anyone know what the difference is between the 3 year vaccine and the yearly?

[shmoo]

hmm.. very very interesting.

[Staff'n'Toller]

I have an old info sheet on it haven, from IDEXX so any Vet can take some blood and send it off.

From memory it needs to be in an EDTA tube but if it needs to be spun down before sending then that may present a problem for some Vets who don't have the equipment to do it.

If I have enough cash I want to get my Stafford tested as she hasn't been done for about 3yrs and I am interested to find out where she is at.

Edited to add - I think we can only do parvo and distemper titres or parvo and hepatitis e.g. not all three are available yet to my knowledge.

Cheers,

Mel.

Edited February 4, 2007 by Staff'n'Toller

[monsterpup]

If anyone knows of anyone who actully does this in Melbourne I'd really appreciate the info

Hi Haven, I've pmed you with the info. :p

Edited February 7, 2007 by monsterpup

[Nekhbet]

yes IDEXX labs should and Dorovitch pathology also handle animal bloods so they should too.

its not complicated, I used it as proof that my Malinois was adequately vaccinated after having a C5 instead of a puppy booster. Sometimes its worth doing, especially for dogs that have vaccine allergies

[catzatsea]

I am in Sydney and my vet made enquiries for me about titre testing. There are 2 companies she found. From memory one is in WA and the other is ?. I will try and find out again where it is. I think she said it was about $150.00 for the test. I will be getting my 4 year old Cav titre tested next time.She also offered me the 3 year injection, which I have never been offered before

That sounds a bit expensive as I found it to be the same price as a C5, There are also a couple of Boarding kennels here in Sydney accepting the Titre Certificate as Vaccination Reqiorements.

[Missy]

Hi all

I have had the frustrating task of speaking to nearly all the vet's receptionist cos the vet is unavailable who have

a) never heard of the titer testing or 3 yearly vaccinations

b) misunderstand what I am asking and therefore restate their vaccinations schedule or my favourite

c) tell me how irresponsible it would be to not to vaccinate annually....guilt trip...

I am in a regional centre in QLD, I am finding it very difficult and frustruating that no-one up here knows what I'm talking about so therefore think I am stupid and ill imformed....hello I get my info from a very reliable source ya know.....dol

Anyone who knows of any vets in North Qld Rockhampton to Townsville areas that do titer testing would be appreciated....or slap me now to wake me from dreamin

Ciao

[Jed]

I had my dog titre tested a few years ago, cost about the same as vac. $150 sounds a bit steep.

As far as I can understand the 3 year vac is the same as the annual vac, but because AVA recommended some years ago, that dogs be vac. every 3 years instead of annually, it is now called 3 yearly. However, someone here said it was a different vac, but I can't see how it can be - you can't give the dog more vaccine, and you get so many answers, but whatever it is, 3 years is often enough.

I do my dogs as pups, and a booster at 12 - 16 months, and that is it, following the results of the titre test - the antibodies were through the roof and the dog hadn't been vac for about 5 years!!

All dogs have been in contact with parvo several times, and none caught it.

[Janba]

I was talking to a holistic vet last week about titre testing and she said of the two labs doing it WA was the best. The report they give is quanitative so you get the actual level of antibodies in the blood. The other lab you just get wether they are present above or below a certain level.

Edited May 16, 2007 by Janba

[Akitaowner]

last time i got my vet to do some research she said it would be about $350 which is pointless - and at the time i couldnt find any boarding kennels that would accept it anyway...so didnt bother too much

Recently they said they do not have the 3 yr vaccine yet here either...but when it does come it will not be KC or ? cant remember but would still need a yrly visit to top up the other ones...

[dwynwen]

last time i got my vet to do some research she said it would be about $350 which is pointless

yikes..

I had two dogs titre tested in 2005 for $167.28 + consult.... hope it hasn't gone up that much.

[BittyMooPeeb]

SMS, can you post this in teh 'sticky' health thread (if it is OK to do so copyright-wise)

Gail

[hortfurball]

Very interesting reading!

I'd been meaning to find out what this titer test was all about for ages. I agree this should be a sticky.

Regarding the 3 year vaccination, I was reading recently that it IS an extra strong dose. Please don't ask me what thread, but I think it may have been in General.

[DeltaCharlie]

Im in Sydney and someone at one of my clubs has just been given a research grant to look into overimmunisation in dogs. They will be working alongside researchers at Sydney Uni, who will be testing our dogs. Not sure how its going for numbers but I have offered to find her some more Sydney dogs if needed in which case I will let you guys know. I think at this stage there is only Perth and Melbourne that test which is why it is so expensive- they need to send the samples to them for testing.

The 3 year vaccination is actually a repackaged 1 year vaccination. There is no difference, however, you have to pay more for it Seems slightly illegal but I dont really know much about the law in that situation.

[Ptolomy]

I get my dogs titre tested every 2 years. The last time it cost me $64 to get them titred for parvo and distemper (I don't do hepatitis because we have not had a case of hepatitis in WA and beside you can't get an individual hepatitis vaccine if your levels are low anyway).

My bitch is now 7 years old and was last vaccinated at 12 months of age and her parvo and distemper levels are still > 80

So there is an advantage to living in WA