- Parvo Issues - Parvo IssuesParvo virus is a terribly debilitating disease, which strikes puppies and adults, and has a high mortality rate among puppies and infirm adults.
Recently, several "high-titer" Parvo vaccines have been introduced, which to our scientific opinion are significantly more effective vaccines for preventing the disease in your puppies and adults (keep in mind that Dave's background is immunochemistry and molecular biology). I do not work for any of these companies; but we would be negligent if we didn't share the information on these vaccine studies, and allow you to have them to review with your vet.
Following is a compiled listing which references the major articles and studies performed on InterVet's ProGard Parvo Vaccine. It is the only vaccine for Parvo we will use. It is a "high titer" vaccine with very high immunogenicity, and it is very effective even during the maternal antibody interference phase with puppies. (One small caution is that there have been colloquial reports on several Internet Lists of what may be hypersensitivity reactions to the vaccine. Consult your vet on this issue.) This list contains the references to the journal articles and a small summary of what each article discusses.
1. "An Evaluaiton of Canine Vaccines for Their Ability to Provide Protective Immunity Against Challenge with Canine Parvovirus", RD Schultz, LJ Larson, KP McCoy, TM Cherney, S Conklin, Dept of Pathobiological Scineces, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Proceedings (presentation) of the AVMA 1994 Meetings.
---- > Comparative study where six commercially available vaccines were utilized during challenge with CPV-2a and CPV-2b strains of canine parvovirus in young puppies (6-10 weeks old) after two dose vaccinations. Vaccines studied were Bio Cor Adenomune-7L, Rhone Merieux RM Canine-6, Solvay Galaxy-6, Intervet Progard-7, Ft Dodge Duranimune, SmithK]ine Beecham Vanguard-5. This is the most critical data which exhibits the *inability* of some of the vaccines to provide any protection from parvovirus when maternal antibody interference is present, while Intervet Progard and Ft Dodge, and to a lesser extent the SKB Vanguard provided active immunity against field strains of parvo.
2. " A Comparative Study with Intervet Parvo Vaccine in the USA", M Stahl and A Mockett, Intervet Inc, Millsboro DE, USA VSD Newsletter, Nov 1993, No 7.
"Comparing How Puppies with Passive Immunity Respond to Three Canine Parvovirus Vaccines", M Stahl and A Mocket, Veterinary Medicine, May 1995.
---- > Comparative study where three commercially available vaccines were utilized in their ability to produce levels of antibody protective against canine parvovirus in young puppies (6-10 weeks old) . Vaccines studied were SmithKIine Beecham Vanguard-5, Ft Dodge Durammune, and Intervet Progard; all animals were tested for serum maternal antibody levels prior to the start of the study. The data demonstrates seroconversion rates of puppies in each group after the first, second, and third doses of vaccine. Statistical analysis of results demostrated (p<0.05) Intervet Progard immunized puppies earlier and stronger than Ft Dodge (second most responsive) or SKB (third most responsive).
3. "Performance of Progard Vaccines in Rottweiler Puppies", M Stahl, Companion Animal Technical Report No 5, Intervet Inc. Millsboro DE, USA
---- > A one variable study where Intervet parvovaccine was adminstered to a high risk line of Rottweilers.
4. "Canine Parvovirus, The Evolving Syndrome", J Hoskins, Dept of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Pedigree Breeder Forum, Volume 4 No. 2, 1995.
---- > A summary article giving an overview of the evolution, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination approaches to canine parvovirus.
5. " Up to Date on a New Canine Parvo Vaccine", PAM van Aarle and MR Geary, Proceedings of the Intemational Veterinary Congress, 1986, Joumal of the Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association, Volume 1 1 1, Suppl 1, April 1986.
----> Initial study data concerning the Intervet vaccine against known chronic non-responders to other vaccinations. Also includes data from Beagle colonies which exhibited the initial European Parvo infections which appeared in 1980. Data also exhibits no adverse impacts from matemal antibody levels prior to start of vaccinations.
Much of this information was reviewed by one of the American Bouvier des Flandres Club members who is also a DVM, and was written into an article published in the National Magazine in 1996 (I was the Editor of the Dirty Beards at that time).
I am in debt to Denise Mankin DVM, for getting me much of this information in the first place.