Maternally derived immunity to feline panleukopenia
Scott, F.W.; Csiza, C.K.; Gillespie, J.H.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 156(4): 439-453
1970
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 5414170 Document Number: 21875
Cats immune to feline panleucopenia (FPL) transferred antibodies in colostrum to their new-born kittens. This maternally derived immunity, if present in sufficient degree, protected kittens against s/c challenge with virulent virus, and prevented an immune response from both inactivated vaccines of tissue origin and modified live-virus vaccines. Serum-neutralizing (SN) titres of kittens were less than 1% of their mother's titre prior to sucking, but increased rapidly to 72% of the mother's level after 24 hours of colostral feeding. Titres then decreased steadily with increasing age, with an antibody half-life of 95 days. The mean titre in 54 kittens born to cats with high SN titres was 1: 2, 500 at 1 day of age, 1: 30 at 8 weeks of age, and less than 1: 2 at 14 weeks of age; titres greater than approx. 1: 30 were protective. A nomograph was proposed to predict the optimal age to vaccinate kittens from cats with known SN titres against FPL virus.