Why should pets be tested for rabies antibodies?

Rabies is mostly caused by bites from dogs and cats. At present, with the increasing number of stray animals and free-range dogs and cats in China, the random contact of these animals is likely to cause the spread of rabies. The rabies virus is susceptible to all warm-blooded animals, and no matter what part of the body it comes into contact with, it ultimately infects the central nervous system.

The dangers of rabies

After a person is bitten, the virus moves along the peripheral nerve axis at a speed of 1-3 mm/hour to the intermediate nerve, the incubation period is generally 20-60 days, and the longest incubation period of infection has been reported in the world for 6.5 years, but only one case, the length of time depends on the depth of the wound, the site and the virus. Although the incidence of rabies is related to a variety of factors, once the virus reaches the brain, it enters rapid reproduction, leading to brain inflammation and clinical symptoms, and most cases will die after 7 days, with a fatality rate of almost 100%.

The spread of rabies

Domestic pets, especially dogs, will often need to go outdoors for activities, which will inevitably come into contact with dogs, cats and other wild animals with unknown disease status. If domestic pets are transmitted to susceptible pets who are not immune or have low levels of rabies antibodies by animals carrying the rabies virus through scratching, biting, licking, etc., it is possible that infected pets can transmit the virus to people when interacting with family members.

In order to avoid the rabies virus infection of pets in outdoor activities, the most effective preventive measure is to vaccinate rabies on time every year. However, there are individual differences among animals, including breed, age, size, feeding style, stress and quality problems caused by improper storage of vaccines, which may lead to immune failure.

The seventh Expert Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that rabies immune antibodies should be above 0.5IU/ml before animals have protection against rabies. In order to ensure that pets are immunized effectively, we recommend that pet owners regularly test their children for rabies antibodies. When the antibody titer is ≥0.5IU/ml, it indicates that the pet has immunity against rabies virus and will not be infected. If the antibody titer is < 0.5IU/ml, immunization should be strengthened until the antibody titer reaches the protective level, so that you can confidently and boldly carry out outdoor activities.

Antibody monitoring, on the one hand, can timely monitor the antibody level of the pet, reduce the risk of pet infection, on the other hand, it can also eliminate the panic caused by being scratched and bitten during interaction.

My new kitten, my new puppy, should I test for antibodies? Can you shoot directly?

When baby cats and puppies are born, they will get protective antibodies from their mothers by drinking their mother's milk, and the reduction of antibodies takes a certain time. Before vaccination, check whether there are any maternal antibodies to prevent excessive antibodies from affecting the immune effect of the vaccine. In addition, antibody testing when a new member of the family comes in can also determine whether they have an immune background.

How long did the child take the rabies vaccine to measure antibodies?

The child can be tested for antibodies 28 days after receiving rabies vaccine, and if the antibody level is not enough, the immunization should be further strengthened.

Is it necessary to test antibodies when adult children are vaccinated regularly every year?

The child is tested before regular inoculation every year, and the level is sufficient to eliminate the need to vaccinate again, reduce the burden on the immune organs and reduce the chance of sarcoma at the injection site. If the Spring Festival needs to send the child to foster care or consignment, the undertaking unit will require the first pet health certificate and other documents to handle, and if you want to travel with the child, the child's resistance is comprehensively evaluated through antibody detection before going out, so as to avoid exposure to pathogens and illness in the outside world