Immunisation against Panleucopenia: Early development of immunity

2013 AAFP Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel Report

“…Recent studies show that ML SC vaccination may provide better protection in the face of MDA than inactivated vaccines do, and may protect against illness even when cats are placed in a contaminated environment soon after vaccination 22,23. ML injectable or IN vaccines containing FPV should not be given to kittens less than 4 weeks of age due to the risk of cerebellar hypoplasia19 or clinical panleukopenia (see Appendix 1 [Shelter FAQs] 'Are there special considerations for vaccinating and housing very young kittens in shelters?…”

WSAVA Guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats

“…• When vaccination is being used to control disease in the face of an outbreak in a shelter situation, the more rapid induction of immunity induced by MLV vaccines is of clinical advantage. • There is a very early onset of protection after vaccination with MLV products (Brun & Chappuis 1979).…”

Effects of maternally-derived antibodies on serologic responses to vaccination in kittens

“…In the absence of interfering maternal antibodies, kittens generally develop sterilizing immunity or resistance to severe clinical disease after 1-3 vaccine doses. 5,[13][14][15][16][17][18] In the field, the presence of maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) at the time of initial vaccination substantially reduces response to vaccination, such that a large proportion of kittens with MDA may fail to develop a protective antibody titer (PAT) by the end of the initial vaccination series. [19][20][21] For pet cats with little chance of exposure to viral infections, the risk associated with a delay in effective immunization is minimal.…”