Evaluation of antithyroglobulin antibodies after routine
vaccination in pet and research dogs.
Scott-Moncrieff JC, Azcona-Olivera J, Glickman NW, Glickman LT, HogenEsch H.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether routine vaccination induces antibodies against
bovine thyroglobulin and autoantibodies against canine thyroglobulin in dogs.
DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 20 healthy research Beagles and 16 healthy
pet dogs. PROCEDURE: For the research Beagles, 5 dogs were vaccinated with a
multivalent vaccine and a rabies vaccine, 5 dogs received only the multivalent
vaccine, 5 dogs received only the rabies vaccine, and 5 dogs were unvaccinated
controls. The multivalent vaccine was administered at 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 26, and
52 weeks of age and every 6 months thereafter. The rabies vaccine was
administered at 16 and 52 weeks of age and then once per year. Blood was
collected from all dogs at 8, 16, and 26 weeks of age and then 4 times yearly.
Assays for antibodies directed against bovine and canine thyroglobulin were
performed prior to and 2 weeks after each yearly vaccination. For the pet dogs,
blood was collected prior to and 2 weeks after 1 vaccination. RESULTS: In the
research Beagles, there was a significant increase in anti-bovine thyroglobulin
antibodies in all vaccinated dogs, compared with control dogs. There was a
significant increase in anti-canine thyroglobulin antibodies in the 2 groups of
dogs that received the rabies vaccine but not in the group that received the
multivalent vaccine alone. In the pet dogs, there was a significant increase in
anti-canine thyroglobulin antibodies after vaccination but no significant change
in anti-bovine thyroglobulin antibodies. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
Recent vaccination may result in increased anti-canine thyroglobulin antibodies.
Whether these antibodies have a deleterious effect on canine thyroid function is
unknown.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.