James R. Richards

Descriptive epidemiology of feline upper respiratory tract disease in an animal shelter.

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is common and spreads quickly in cats residing in animal shelters in the United States. Estimates of the actual incidence of URTD are sparse, yet this information is very important for welfare, economic and research purposes. In a large urban shelter in the northeastern US, 531 individual kittens, 701 litters, and 2203 adult cats were observed for signs of URTD during their stays. The median lengths of stay for adult cats and kittens were 5 and 4 days, respectively. Observations were made over a 50-week period. Approximately 1/3 exhibited signs of infectious respiratory disease. The crude incidence density estimates of URTD were 6.2, 6.7, and 5.6 cases per 100 cats per day among individual kittens, litters and adult cats, respectively. Increasing time of residence in the shelter increased risk of URTD. Using the Kaplan–Meier product limit method, the cumulative probability of developing URTD by day 7 in the shelter was approximately 32% (based on n=211) for litters, 31% (n=120) for individual kittens and 26% (n=763) for adult cats. By day 14, these cumulative probabilities had risen to 84% (n=18), 86% (n=7), and 80% (n=51) among litters, individual kittens and adult cats, respectively. The Kaplan–Meier failure function curve (probability of developing URTD overtime) for adults was significantly lower than those for litters or individual kittens (P<0.04). Among adult cats, those 11 years of age and older had a significantly higher risk of URTD compared to younger adult cats (P<0.05). Male cats (neutered and castrated) had higher URTD rates than ovariohysterectomized females, and purebred cats had a higher risk than those of mixed breeding. In this shelter, cats identified as strays were more likely to exhibit URTD than owner-surrendered cats. Affected cats spent a median of 3 more days than unaffected cats before they developed URTD. Approximately 1/3 (31.4%) of the observed individual kittens and 2/3 (61.8%) of the observed adult cats were euthanased with URTD in this shelter. Other factors such as space and behavior, especially among affected adult cats, were also cited as reasons leading to euthanasia.

Feline Vaccination Guidelines

The 1998 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines was developed to help veterinary practitioners formulate vaccination protocols for cats. The current panel report updates information, addresses questions, and speaks to concerns raised by the 1998 report. In addition it reviews vaccine licensing, labeling, and liability issues and suggests ways to successfully incorporate vaccination protocol changes into a private practice setting.

Challenges confronting feline vaccination

Abstract Vaccination continues to be a major tool for controlling feline infectious diseases, but numerous factors present both challenges and opportunities for maintaining and expanding the market for veterinary biologicals. Developing novel vaccines is one approach, but in most cases the market for such products will be restricted to niche populations; the comparatively smaller quantity of vaccines sold may be offset somewhat if available from a limited number of manufacturers. A second approach is to produce better formulations of existing vaccines; such products would be applicable to larger populations of cats and have greater sales potential. But veterinarians must be convinced of the improved products superiority for it to be successful in the marketplace. To ensure that high-quality, useful and necessary vaccines reach the marketplace, communication between veterinarians, the manufacturers of biologicals, and regulatory agencies must be enhanced.