CANINE RABIES VACCINE CHALLENGE STUDIES BEGIN !
One of the most important vaccine research studies in veterinary medicine is
underway at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in
Madison. Dr. Ronald Schultz, a leading authority on veterinary vaccines and
Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, has begun concurrent 5
and 7 year challenge studies to determine the long-term duration of immunity
of the canine rabies vaccine, with the goal of extending the state-mandated
interval for boosters. These will be the first long-term challenge studies
on the canine rabies vaccine to be published in the United States.
Dr. Schultz comments that: "We are all very excited to start this study that
will hopefully demonstrate that rabies vaccines can provide a minimum of 7
years of immunity." This research is being financed by The Rabies Challenge
Fund, a charitable trust founded by pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L.
Christine of Maine, who serves as Co-Trustee with world-renowned veterinary
research scientist and practicing clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of Hemopet in
California. The Rabies Challenge Fund recently met its goal of $177,000 to
fund the studies' first year budget with contributions from dog owners,
canine groups, trainers, veterinarians, and small businesses. Annual budget
goals of $150,000 for the studies must be met in the future.
Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM states: "This is the first time in my 43 years of
involvement in veterinary issues that what started as a grass-roots effort
to change an outmoded regulation affecting animals will be addressed
scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canines in the
future."
Scientific data published in 1992 by Michel Aubert and his research team
demonstrated that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after
vaccination, while Dr. Schultz's serological studies documented antibody
titer counts at levels known to confer immunity to rabies 7 years
post-vaccination. This data strongly suggests that state laws requiring
annual or triennial rabies boosters for dogs are redundant. Because the
rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated
with significant adverse reactions, it should not be given more often than
is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions such autoimmune
diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver,
bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures;
epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are linked to rabies
vaccinations.
Study co-trustee Kris Christine adds: "Because the USDA does not require
vaccine manufacturers to provide long-term duration of immunity studies
documenting maximum effectiveness when licensing their products, concerned
dog owners have contributed the money to fund this research themselves. We
want to ensure that rabies immunization laws are based upon independent,
long-term scientific data."
More information and regular updates on The Rabies ChallengeFund and the
concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies it is financing can be found at
the fund's website designed by volunteer Andrea Brin at:
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org <http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/>.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO POST AND CROSS-POST THIS MESSAGE If you wish to
beadded to my e-mail list for updates on the Rabies Challenge Fund, please
contact me at [email protected]
ledgespring%40lincoln.midcoast.com> . If anyone would like copies of the
American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines, the 1992
French challenge study demonstrating that dogs were immune to a rabies
challenge 5 years after vaccination, the 2003 Italian study documenting
fibrosarcomas at the presumed injection sites of rabies vaccines in dogs, as
well as Dr. W. Jean Dodds' papers on vaccinal adverse reactions, please
e-mail me at [email protected] <ledgespringlincoln.midco
