Immunology and Wellness

Flashcards created for review of key concepts in immunology and wellness related to animals.

Immune System

The immune system is responsible for recognizing foreign cells like bacteria, viruses, or fungi and destroying or removing them from the body.

Immunity

The ability to resist a particular disease, especially through preventing the development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products.

Active immunity

The immune system develops antibodies to antigens as a result of exposure.

Passive immunity

Antibodies are received from another animal instead of producing their own

Antibody

• Proteins produced by the immune system that protect the body when an unwanted substance enters.

• Located in various areas such as skin, lungs, tears, colostrum, and others

Antigen

A foreign substance that has entered the body, which can include bacteria, viruses, fungi, venom, or allergens.

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies that are created in a lab to target specific antigens.

Use of monoclonal antibodies is ______________.

immunotherapy

IgM

• The first antibody produced in response to an infection, making up about 10% of the antibody pool in mammals.

• Large in size so confined mainly to the bloodstream

IgG

• The most abundant antibody in the bloodstream, small enough to cross the placental barrier to provide immunity to the fetus.

• Small so can easily leave the vascular system and enter tissues when needed

IgA

An antibody that is found in body secretions such as tears and colostrum, and in mucous membranes.

IgE

• Very small levels in the plasma of health animals

• Boost inflammatory reactions

• Attracts eosinophils WBC

• Effective against parasitic infections

• Excess production can be damaging (allergiEs)

  • Systemic – anaphylactic shock

  • Local – allergic reaction

IgD

An antibody that is not present in all mammals and has an unclear role.

Antibody Testing

• Testing that indicates whether antibodies have been produced as a result of exposure to a pathogen.

• Positive results indicate antibodies have been produced as a result of exposure (vaccination or disease)

Antigen Testing

• Testing that indicates a current infection through the presence of antigens.

• Positive results indicate current infection

Preventative Health Programs

• Programs designed to anticipate the risk of disease for a patient and tailor specific health recommendations.

• Especially important in group situations but benefits even the individual animal.

Why do adult animals not need a series of 3 or 4 vaccinations?

Adult animals typically have maternal antibodies that provide immunity and a more developed immune system, which can effectively respond to pathogens without the need for multiple vaccinations.

First visit is about

6 to 8 weeks of age

Window of Susceptibility

A period when the antibody level is not enough to protect the animal from infection, but could still interfere with vaccination (prevent protection).

Return every 3 to 4 weeks until about

16 weeks— dewormer and vaccinations are administered.

Geriatric cats

• 12 to 15 years on average

• Indoor cats typically live longer than outdoor cats but there is no definite number

• Possible reasons: no fighting danger,

Geriatric dogs

• Larger variation in life expectancy due to breed size

• Giant breeds live much shorter life spans than “average” sized animals

• Senior when in the last 25% of their anticipated life span

• Age itself is not a disease. Animals do not die from “old age”.

Noninfectious vaccines

Killed

• Inactivated whole units or subunits of the bacteria or virus are used so they cannot replicate

• Mass produced and cost effective

• Often contain adjuvant (rabies)

Infectious vaccine

Recombinant

DNA of a pathogen is manipulated and incorporated into the genome of another agent (canarypox)

Infectious vaccine

Modified live and attenuated

• A naturally occurring pathogen is artificially manipulated or modified so disease is not produced but an immune response is

• Good immune response and boosters may not be needed (varies)

As a rule, vaccine dose

does not vary. The Great Dane and the Chihuahua will get the same vaccine dose. This applies to vaccinations only – not to other medications such as antibiotics or pain medications.

Routes

SQ, Oral, IN, IM, Transdermal

Core Vaccines

Vaccines that are recommended for all members of a species based on universal disease risk.

Noncore Vaccines

Vaccines recommended on an individual basis based on patient lifestyle or medical history.

Canine Core vaccines

• rabies

• distemper

• hepatitis

• parvovirus

• parainfluenza

• leptospirosis

Canine NonCore vaccines

• Lyme disease

• bordatella

• influensa

• rattlesnake

• corona virus

Rabies

• Core

• Virus - rhabdo virus

• Transmission: saliva

• All mammals are susceptible.

• In the US, most cases of rabies are in wild animals. In countries without sufficient vaccination protocols, dogs are the major source of rabies transmission.

• No treatment available in animals.

• Rabies infection is confirmed after death.

Canine Distemper

• Core

• Virus - paramyxovirus

• Transmission: Airborne, placental

• Puppies less than 4 months are most at risk as well as unvaccinated adult dogs.

• Symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, head tilt, twitches, seizures, and hyperkeratosis.

• No cure.

• Symptomatic treatment to prevent secondary infections.

• Recovered dogs are not carriers

• Targets the GI tract and CNS

• hyperkeratosis— on paw pads and nose

Canine Hepatitis

• core

• Viral infection causes infectious canine hepatitis

• TTransmission: urine and nasal or ocular discharge

  • Can be shed in the urine for up to a year

• Symptoms can be mild (depressed, anorexia, fever, cough, lethargy) or severe (abdominal pain, vomit, diarrhea, edema, jaundice, death)

• Affects the liver and kidneys in particular.

• No treatment but attempt to minimize secondary infections

• adenovirus type 2 is protective

• adenovirus type 1 is core

Canine Parvovirus

• core

• Virus

• Puppies less than 4 months are particularly susceptible but any unvaccinated dog is at risk

• Affects the GI tract and cardiac muscle

• Transmission: via feces (contact with contaminated feces) (fomites)

• Particularly resistant to heat, cold, humidity.

• Symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, bloody diarrhea

• Historically, no treatment to kill the virus but instead supportive therapy. There is a new (2023) Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody now produced by Elanco.

• Lifelong immunity if the dog survives

Canine Parainfluenza

• core

• Virus - paramyxovirus

• Respiratory disease with respiratory transmission

• Not the same as canine influenza

• Symptoms include coughing (dry or moist), nasal discharge, lethargy.

• Most recover with no treatment but may still be contagious

Leptospirosis

• core

• Bacterial— Leptospira

  • Shape? spirochete spiral

• Renal and/or liver failure

• Acute renal or liver failure, jaundice, fever, anorexia

• Treatment – doxycycline or ampicillin

• Transmitted via contact with infected urine

  • Can be shed in the urine for up a year

• Zoonotic

Lyme Disease

• noncore

• Bacterial – spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

• Transmission: Tick - Ixodes

• Anorexia, polyarthritis, fever, swelling of the joints, bullseye bite

• Supportive treatment.

• Relapse is possible

• Zoonotic

Canine Influenza

• noncore

• Virus – Orthomyxoviridae

• H3N8 and H3N2 in the US

• Transmission: Aerosol (barking, coughing, sneezing)

• Symptoms include cough, nasal or ocular discharge, lethargy

• Supportive treatment

***Bordetella bronchiseptica***

• noncore

• Bacteria – commonly associated with kennel cough

• Contributes to the complex associated with the term “kennel cough”

• See next slide for additional information

• canine infectious respiratory DISEASE complex — CIRRDC

• most common bacteria

Rattlesnake

• noncore

• Dependent on lifestyle and geographical location

• Creates immunity to protect the dog against the effects of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) venom

• Unsubstantiated/unclear claims of crossprotection

• Even vaccinated dogs will likely need additional treatment (antivenin)

• The vaccine is intended to minimize the effects of the rattlesnake venom.

• Dry bites occur but who wants to take that chance?

Antivenin

• noncore

• Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent is indicated for use in dogs which received bites from pit vipers

• All North American species of:

  • Rattlesnakes

  • Copperheads

  • Cottonmouth

Canine Coronavirus

• noncore

• CCoV

• Viral – Coronaviridae

• Diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite

• No treatment

• No respiratory component to this disease – not the same virus associated with COVID-19

what leg does the rabies vaccine go on?

right hind leg of dogs.

what leg does the DHLPP vaccine go on?

left hind leg of dogs.