Feline vaccination practices and protocols used by veterinarians in the United Kingdom

Equine influenza vaccination in the UK: Current practices may leave horses with suboptimal immunity

BACKGROUND

Vaccination is integral to preventive healthcare. Despite numerous guidelines on equine vaccination, evidence of current vaccination practices is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To describe current vaccination practices advised by vets treating horses in the United Kingdom (UK) and compare practices with manufacturer datasheets and current guidelines.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

An online questionnaire was distributed using email addresses acquired through professional registration listings and social media, targeting vets who treat horses in the UK. The questionnaire collected demographic data and information regarding vaccination practices and vaccine hesitancy. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were completed by 304 UK vets working with horses used for leisure (97.4%, n = 296/304), competition (86.2%, n = 262/304), stud-work (47.7%, n = 145/304) and racing (40.5%, n = 123/304). Variation was identified in vaccine protocols for competition and noncompetition horses. Fifty-seven per cent (n = 170/298) of respondents reported variation in advised 'booster' frequency; most commonly (n = 118) advising a 6-monthly vaccination in competition horses and annual vaccination in noncompetition horses. Most common vaccination guidelines volunteered were British Horseracing Authority (68.8%, n = 172/250) and Federation Equestre Internationale (66.4%, n = 166/250). Most vaccination practices were not consistent with datasheet guidance. Only 7.7% (n = 23/300) of respondents complied with datasheet timeframes between the second and third vaccination. Adverse events following vaccination in the previous year were encountered by 66% (n = 199/304) of respondents, representing 2760 adverse events; but only 526 (19.1%) cases were reported to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Most common reactions were transient, including stiffness (931), localised swelling (835), lethargy (559) and pyrexia (355). 86.4% respondents reported vaccine hesitancy from horse owners, most commonly due to perception of over-vaccination, cost and concern regarding adverse events.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

Potential selection, respondent and recall bias. The recent Equine Influenza (EI) and Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) outbreaks in the UK may have altered responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Current equine vaccination practices, although complying with competition rules, are mostly noncompliant with datasheet guidelines, potentially risking suboptimal immunity.

UK owner preferences for treatment of feline injection site sarcomas

OBJECTIVES

Feline injection site sarcomas are therapeutically challenging because of their locally invasive nature. Several protocols recommend that the two perceived high-risk adjuvanted vaccines should be administered into distinct anatomical sites ("left hind leg leukaemia, right hind leg rabies"), which should aid surgical resection. This has resulted in a change in tumour distribution with an increased proportion situated caudal to the diaphragm when such a policy is adopted. The aim of this study was to determine UK cat owners' attitudes towards surgical treatments of different anatomical regions.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of an anonymous convenience sample of UK cat owners was conducted from September to December, 2012 using an internet-based survey.

RESULTS

There were a total of 208 respondents: 39% would pursue surgery regardless of tumour site. One percent would not pursue surgery. Of the remainder, respondents would not allow amputation of the forelimb (20%), hindlimb (15%) or tail (15%). Twenty-six, 32 and 27% would not have surgical treatment of the inter-scapular region, chest or abdomen, respectively. The majority of respondents were willing to travel up to 100 miles for radiotherapy or chemotherapy (66 and 69%, respectively).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The current feline vaccine site recommendations may not be appropriate for UK cat owners.

Injection site-associated sarcoma in the cat: treatment recommendations and results to date

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE

Feline injection site-associated sarcomas (FISSs) have been the cause of much controversy and concern since they were first reported in the early 1990s. While not solely associated with vaccination, there are implications for vaccination sites and schedules and, while guidance has been published, this appears to be permeating only slowly through to general practice.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES

Up to one-quarter of cats with this difficult condition have metastatic lung involvement. The mainstay of treatment is aggressive surgery, but even in cases where full excision with clean margins is achieved, tumour recurrence is anticipated in about one-third of cases. The role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as adjuvant treatments has yet to be clearly defined.

PATIENT GROUP

FISSs are often seen in younger cats, with a peak presentation at 6-7 years and a second peak at 10-11 years.

EVIDENCE BASE

This review summarises the diagnosis and management of FISS with reference to the latest published treatment results. It focuses on surgical excision but also covers adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and gives median survival times for the different treatment approaches.