Recently, Merial stopped producing Purevax, with no known date of when
they will return to production -- and some rumors have been circulating
that Merial has ceased production, permanently. Merial's Purevax is
the only licensed vaccination against canine distemper (CDV) for the
domestic ferret. Whenever available, the American Ferret Association
(AFA) recommends the use of a licensed vaccine against canine distemper
in ferrets. When such a vaccine is unavailable due to shortages or
other problems, the AFA recommends considering the use of a limited
antigen vaccine that has a track record of safe and efficacious use in
protecting ferrets. At this time, that is limited to Merck's Nobivac
DPv, also known as "The Puppy Shot," which has been used extensively
in Europe for protecting ferrets against CDV. Although it does also
vaccinate against canine parvovirus, which ferrets do not get, it is
still the most proven vaccine available at times when the licensed
product is not.

The American Ferret Association's currently recommended vaccine
schedule against CDV is as follows:

For healthy kits less than or equal to 14 weeks of age from mothers
whose vaccination history is unknown, incomplete, or outdated; OR for
kits that have unknown, incomplete, or no vaccination history: a series
of three vaccinations, three weeks apart, with annual boosters
thereafter.

For healthy ferrets over 14 weeks of age that have unknown, incomplete,
outdated, or no vaccination history: a series of two vaccinations,
three weeks apart, with annual boosters thereafter.

This protocol is evolving following some recent titer study data, which
suggests that ferrets that receive the appropriate series of initial
vaccinations have protection titer levels both at a year and many for
over three years after vaccination. Dr. Ruth Heller suggests the kit
series as noted above, with a serum neutralization titer test performed
at a year, and annually thereafter; only vaccinating when titer
levels come back low ( <1:50, as noted in Wagner & Bhardwaj's study
"Serum-Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Canine Distemper Virus
Vaccines in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) "Journal of Exotic
Animal Medicine, Volume 21, Issue 3, Pages 243-247. July 2012.)

Dr. Heller notes that Nobivac DPv "does, however, produce decent
titers, and I have seen no reactions in approaching two years of
using it."

Currently, there are several titer tests available to veterinarians
through various laboratories. However, many are inconclusive in their
results and can be quite expensive to the owner. Thus, the AFA suggests
using a serum neutralization titer through Cornell University's College
of Veterinary Medicine. Cornell only accepts tests from licensed
veterinarians, so pet owners cannot submit samples themselves. Cornell
offers an inexpensive and accurate titer that can help you as the
treating veterinarian determine if and when a patient needs another
canine distemper vaccination. In light of the recent Merial production
halt of Purevax, this is an increasingly attractive option for ferret
owners and veterinarians alike.

Cornell currently charges $16.50 per sample, with a $2 Accession Fee.
The General Submission form should be filled out with submissions,
noting that the Test Code is CDV SN.

For more information on the titer through Cornell, including how to
prepare sera, please visit Cornell University's College of Veterinary
Medicine's Animal Health Diagnostic Center webpage, where you must then
search under Canine Virology tests for Canine Distemper (CDV) Virus SN.
(https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/)

General Submission Form:
https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/docs/General_Submission_Form.pdf

Shipping Guidelines for samples to Cornell:
<https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/docs/Shipping_Patient_Specimens_to_the_AHDC.pdf>

Billing and Fee Policy:
https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/billing/

American Ferret Association, Inc.
With special help from Dr. Ruth Heller, AFA Health Affairs Committee.

Vickie McKimmey

Office Manager
American Ferret Association, Inc.
www.ferret.org

[Posted in FML 8134]