Factors affecting the outcome of primary rabies vaccination in young cats

Abstract

Limited data exist on the factors affecting feline rabies vaccination outcomes during primary immunization. This study aimed to assess if specific factors (signalment, vaccination count, vaccine brand, and time since last vaccination) correlated with meeting global antibody titer standards and absolute titers in young cats given monovalent inactivated rabies vaccines. Analyzing a dataset from cats tested before their first annual booster using the FAVN test, logistic and linear regression models were applied. Among 379 cats, 94.2 % achieved titers meeting or exceeding the standard threshold (≥0.5 IU/ml). Time since last vaccination proved to be the primary predictor of vaccination success. Cats receiving two vaccinations tended toward higher titers. Age, sex, breed, and vaccine type showed no impact on outcomes. The present study indicates that vaccination failure in young cats is uncommon, and that the time interval from the latest vaccination is the single most important predictor of successful rabies vaccination.