Abstract
A feline tri-valent inactivated vaccine adjuvanted with oil emulsion (F3V·OE) has been developed against feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), feline viral rhinotracheitis virus (FVRV), and feline calicivirus (FCV) infections. This vaccine contains lyophilized antigens consisting of formalin-inactivated and concentrated FCV and FPLV from cell cultures, and detergent-solubilized cells infected with FVRV. When kittens were immunized with the F3V·OE, high antibody titers were elicited.
Three-to 5-month-old kittens were injected twice with the F3V·OE in a single or triple dose at an interval of 3weeks, and were examined for pathological changes of injection sites every 3weeks from 1 to 15 weeks after injection. No adverse clinical signs were recognized durig the observation period. Macroscopically, at 1week after injection, slight swelling at the injection sites was observed only in the triple dose injection group, but the change disappeared after 3weeks. In the single dose injection group, no gross chages such as swelling or hemorrhage or microscopic changes such as muscle degeneration or necrosis were obseved.
However, formation of adjuvant granuloma, infiltration and accumulation of lymphoid cells in the connective and muscle tissue were observed until 9weeks, diminishing after 12 weeks.
Three-to 5-month old kittens were vaccinated with F3V·OE twice at a 3-week interval. Following challenge with virulent FPLV, FVRV and FCV at 6months post-vaccination, none of the vaccinates showed significant clinical signs of infection.
It was demonstrated that the F3V·OE is effective in preventing FPLV, FVRV, and FCV infections, and that the vaccine is safe in kittens.
