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  Discussion on Rotavirus vaccination
Author Message
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004 - 9:55 am:

Dear Dr O

An article in the Irish Field last week recommends pregnant mares get the new Rotavirus vaccination at 8, 9 and 10 months. Any advice or is rotavirus not a problem with foals in the new world? Apparently the mares then pass on the immunity to the foals in the colostrum. I asked my vet about it this morning and he thinks it is worthwhile but he was in a rush, queue of customers so I did not want to detain him any further... especially since he just vetted my other horse sound for purchase...

All the best

Imogen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 30, 2004 - 8:21 pm:

Hello Imogen,
Over here, the last I heard the vaccine was only approved for use in limited areas of the US and was of uncertain efficacy, see article on Infectious Foal Diarrheas. We are traveling right now so I do not have the resources I normally would to see if there are any changes in this recommendation, I will see what I find when we get back in next Monday.

It is important to know that it appears most (all?) foals are exposed at some time and many go through the disease asymptomatically with about 40% developing fever and diarrhea and usually a fairly mild disease. I would expect crowding and unsanitary conditions to worsen the severity of the disease.
DrO
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 4, 2005 - 6:28 am:

Imogen, I have searched for new information without much luck. The only piece of resarch into efficacy that I can find published was:

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1997 Jul 15;211(2):193-8.
Field study of the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an inactivated equine rotavirus vaccine.

Powell DG, Dwyer RM, Traub-Dargatz JL, Fulker RH, Whalen JW Jr, Srinivasappa J, Acree WM, Chu HJ.

Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an inactivated equine rotavirus vaccine. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 316 pregnant Thoroughbred mares during the first year of the study and 311 during the second year. PROCEDURE: During the first year, mares received 3 doses of vaccine or placebo, IM, at 8, 9, and 10 months of gestation. Serum neutralizing antibody titers were measured before vaccination and 1 and 35 days after foaling. Antibody titers were measured in foals 1, 7, 35, 60, 90, and 120 days after birth. During the second year, mares that had been vaccinated the previous year received a single booster dose of vaccine approximately 1 month prior to parturition. Mares that had received the placebo the previous year and mares new to the study received 3 doses of vaccine or placebo. Serum neutralizing antibody titers were measured in samples taken from mares approximately 1 day after foaling and from foals approximately 1 and 60 days after birth. RESULTS: Adverse reactions were not observed. Antibody titers were significantly increased at the time of foaling and 35 days after foaling in vaccinated, compared with control, mares and for 90 days after birth in foals born to vaccinated, compared with foals born to control, mares. Incidence of rotaviral diarrhea was lower in foals born to vaccinated, compared with foals born to control, mares, but the difference was not significant. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Results suggest that the equine rotavirus vaccine is safe and immunogenic and that reasonable efficacy under field conditions can be expected.

Though not exactly a ringing endorsement they imply further testing might yield significant protection. It seems in areas of very high concentrations of newborns (Lexington and New Market have been mentioned) they see a epidemic situation where lots of newborns become infected with rotavirus and some die. It also seems they report the vaccine has greatly attenuated these outbreaks. The problem is I can find where people write and talk about these reports second hand but not a single published first hand study.
DrO
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 4, 2005 - 11:34 am:

Thanks Dr O - I shall bring this to the attention of my vet! If he comes back with anything else I'll report it here.

All the best

Imogen
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