Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines, 1984 Prepared by:
The National Association of State Public Health
Veterinarians, Inc.
Part I: Recommendations for Immunization Procedures
The purpose of these recommendations is to provide information
on
rabies vaccines to practicing veterinarians, public health
officials,
and others concerned with rabies control. This document will serve
as
the basis for animal rabies vaccination programs throughout the
United
States. Its adoption by cooperating organizations will result in
standardization of procedures among jurisdictions, which is
necessary
for an effective national rabies-control program. These
recommendations are reviewed and revised as necessary before the
beginning of each calendar year. All animal rabies vaccines
licensed
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and marketed in the
United States are listed in Part II of the Compendium, and Part III
describes the principles of rabies control.
VACCINE ADMINISTRATION
The Committee recommends that all animal rabies vaccines be
restricted to use by or under the supervision of a
veterinarian.
VACCINE SELECTION
While recognizing the efficacy of vaccines providing 1-year
duration of immunity, the Committee recommends the use of
vaccines
providing 3-year duration of immunity, because their use
constitutes the most effective method of increasing the
proportion
of immunized dogs and cats in comprehensive rabies-control
programs.
ROUTE OF INOCULATION
All rabies vaccines must be administered intramuscularly at one
site in the thigh.
HIGH-RISK RABIES AREA
An area (town, city, or county) where a high incidence of
rabies
exists among wildlife or domestic species, as determined by
state
health officials, may be declared a High-Risk Rabies Area. In
such areas, the public should be alerted to the risk and urged
to
make sure their dogs and cats have current rabies vaccinations.
State health officials may wish to consider temporarily
altering
revaccination schedules.
WILDLIFE VACCINATION
Vaccination is not recommended, since no rabies vaccine is
licensed for use in wild animals and since there is no evidence
that animal rabies vaccines produce acceptable levels of
immunity
in wild animals. The Committee recommends that neither wild
nor
exotic animals be kept as pets and that wild animals not be
cross-bred with domestic dogs or cats.
ACCIDENTAL HUMAN EXPOSURE TO VACCINE
Accidental human inoculation may occur during administration of
animal rabies vaccines. Exposures to inactivated vaccines
constitute no known rabies hazard. No cases of rabies have
resulted from needle or other exposure to a licensed, modified
live virus vaccines in the United States.
IDENTIFICATION OF VACCINATED DOGS
The Committee recommends that all government agencies and
veterinarians adopt the standard tag system. This will aid the
administration of local, state, national, and international
procedures. Dog license tags should not conflict in shape and
color with rabies tags. It is recommended that anodized
aluminum
rabies tags not be less than 0.064 inches in thickness.
Rabies Tags:
Calendar Year
Color Shape
1984
Red Heart
1985
Blue Rosette
1986
Orange Fireplug
1987
Green Bell
2. Rabies Certificate: Government agencies and veterinarians
should use the NASPHV form #50, Rabies Vaccination
Certificate, which can be obtained from vaccine
manufacturers.
Part III: Principles of Rabies Control
These guidelines have been prepared by the National
Association
of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) for use by government
officials, practicing veterinarians, and others who may become
involved in certain aspects of rabies control. The NASPHV plans to
annually review and revise these recommendations as necessary.
Standardized control procedures are needed to deal effectively with
the public health aspects of rabies.
PRINCIPLES OF RABIES CONTROL
Rabies in Humans: Rabies in humans can be prevented by
eliminating exposure to rabid animals and by promptly
treating local wounds and immunizing when exposed.
Current
recommendations of the Public Health Service Immunization
Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) for pre-exposure and
post-exposure prophylaxis are suggested for attending
physicians. These recommendations, along with the current
status of animal rabies in the region and information
concerning the availability of rabies biologics, are
available from state health departments.
Domestic Animals: Local governments should initiate and
maintain effective programs to remove strays and unwanted
animals and ensure vaccination of all dogs and cats.
Since
cat rabies cases now exceed those annually reported in
dogs,
immunization of cats must be emphasized. Such procedures
in
the United States have reduced laboratory-confirmed rabies
cases in dogs from 8,000 in 1947 to 153 in 1982. The
recommended vaccination procedures and the licensed animal
vaccines are specified in Parts I and II of the NASPHV's
annually released Compendium.
Rabies in Wildlife: The control of rabies in foxes,
skunks,
raccoons, and other terrestrial animals is very difficult.
Selective reduction of these populations, when indicated,
may
be useful, but the utility of this procedure depends
heavily
on the circumstances surrounding each rabies outbreak.
CONTROL METHODS IN DOMESTIC AND CONFINED ANIMALS
Pre-exposure Vaccination and Management: Animal rabies
vaccines, because of species limitations, techniques, and
tolerances, should be administered only by or under the
direct supervision of a veterinarian. Within 1 month
after
vaccination, a peak rabies antibody titer is reached, and
the
animal can be considered immunized. (See Parts I and II
of
the Compendium for recommended vaccines and procedures.)
Dogs and Cats: All dogs and cats should be
vaccinated
against rabies commencing at 3 months of age and
direct supervision of a veterinarian. Within 1 month
after
vaccination, a peak rabies antibody titer is reached, and
the
animal can be considered immunized. (See Parts I and II
of
the Compendium for recommended vaccines and procedures.)
Dogs and Cats: All dogs and cats should be
vaccinated
against rabies commencing at 3 months of age and
revaccinated in accordance with Part II of this
Compendium.
Livestock: It is not economically feasible, nor is
it
justifiable from a public health standpoint, to
vaccinate all livestock against rabies. Veterinary
clinicians and owners of valuable animals may
consider
immunizing certain breeding stock located in areas
where
wildlife rabies is epizootic.
Other Animals:
(1)
Animals Maintained in Exhibits and in Zoologic Parks: Captive
animals
not completely excluded from all contact with local vectors of
rabies
can become infected with rabies. Moreover, such animals may be
incubating rabies when captured. Exhibit animals, especially those
carnivores and omnivores having contact with the viewing public,
should be quarantined for a minimum of 180 days. Since no rabies
vaccine is licensed for use in wild animals, vaccination, even with
inactivated vaccine, is not recommended. Pre-exposure rabies
immunization of animal workers at such facilities is recommended to
protect the workers and to reduce the need for euthanasia of
valuable
animals for rabies testing after they have bitten a handler.
(2)
Wild Animals: Because of the existing risk of rabies among wild
animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes, the American
Veterinary
Medical Association (AVMA), the NASPHV, and the Conference of State
and Territorial Epidemiologists strongly recommend the enactment of
state laws prohibiting the interstate and intrastate importation,
distribution, and relocation of wild animals and wild animals
cross-bred to domestic dogs and cats. Further, these same
organizations continue to recommend the enactment of laws
prohibiting
the distribution and/or ownership of wild animals as pets.
2. Stray-Animal Control: Stray animals should be removed
from
the community, especially in rabies-epizootic areas.
Local
health department and animal-control officials can enforce
the pick-up of strays more efficiently if owned animals
are
confined or leashed when not confined. Strays should be
impounded for at least 3 days to give owners sufficient
time
to reclaim animals apprehended as strays.
3. Quarantine:
International: Present USDA regulations (CFR No.
71154)
governing the importation of wild and domesticated
felines, canines, and other potential rabies vectors
are
minimal for preventing the introduction of rabid
animals
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