Vaccination site carcinoma

[Andrew]

According to Dr Dodds' studies, a vaccination can last for years....

A couple of other scientists say one vaccination can last for a life time for cats but right now, there isn't any concrete proof.

'A recently published survey [20] identified a 5-fold increase in the occurrence of vaccine-associated sarcoma in cats receiving adjuvanted vaccine compared to cats that only received non-adjuvanted vaccine during the same 5-year periodb. Administering only non-adjuvanted vaccines to cats is not likely to completely eliminate the risk of injection-site sarcoma. However, the reduction in tumor risk associated with administering adjuvant-free vaccine to cats may ultimately prove to be significant. Any veterinarian who administers vaccines to cats has a responsibility to at least consider the option to avoid using adjuvanted vaccines in cats.'
Adjuvant. Of particular concern is the role that adjuvant, such as aluminum hydroxide, a common component of killed vaccines used in humans and animals, has in causing the inflammatory response that, in some cats, culminates in metaplasia of fibrocytes and tumor formation. An adjuvant is, quite simply, a chemical added to killed viral and bacterial vaccines as a means of enhancingd the immune response to a relatively weak immunizing antigen...i.e., the killed virus or bacteria. Currently, companion animal vaccine labels do not specify whether the vaccine is adjuvanted or not. Note: Vaccines that do NOT contain adjuvant include: modified-live virus vaccines, avirulent-live bacterial vaccines [e.g., intranasal administration], and recombinant vaccines.

~~ Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVPM (Hon)
Professor of Medicine, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2005&PID=10911&Category=1554&O=Generic

A more detailed study and recommendation by the American Association of Feline Practitioners can be found here:
http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/2006_Vaccination_Guidelines_JAVMA.pdf

Nobivac's tricat is modified. But I would not recommend giving a combined vaccination. According to Dr Jean Dodds's protocol, one vaccination for one disease at any time and wait a month to give another.

If your cat is older than 10, chances are, they already have the antibodies against other diseases and infection eg cat flu etc. To be really safe, she can request an antibody test for those infection and see if any vaccination is needed.

If the cat had already had a lump in the vaccination site, I would not vaccine the cat again -- the recurring rate of vaccination associated sarcoma is nearly 100%.

You can also joined http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline_VAS_Support/ and tell the owner Gigi I send you there (Andrew, her megacolon moderator)-- they are in contact with leading scientists, oncologists, feline specialists etc and they have most up to date information.

Andrew

[swampmaxmum]

Hi Pinkbear, yes my Swampy had a vaccine site potential carcinoma lump removed a few years back and since then he's unvaccinated except for rabies (the 3 year one: done in his leg). However after we found the lump, the vets waited a couple of months before operating and luckily by then, although he still needed it out, the vet was less suspicious of it, having done an ultrasound etc first to have a good look. If the lump doesn't go down at all or gets bigger (lump feels fibrous too) they are supposed to cut out a large area all around it and it's a major op. The cancer some cats get from vaccines is called fibrosarcoma and it's a terrible one in that it's aggressive and keeps re-occurring. Eventually the cat dies from too many major ops, rather than the cancer.  At the time I was in touch with a specialist both here and in the EU and they both said any cats that have had lumps as a result of vaccines (whether benign lumps or not) are predisposed to lumps, so the fewer the vaccines the better. Weigh it up on a risk-benefit ratio.

Obviously FeLV isn't necessary if the cat is an indoor cat. However if they are going outside and are likely to catch leukaemia, they recommend vaccinating in the leg (as said below). This is a technique that UK vets have a bit of a problem with as aren't used to doing it and sometimes say you are making a fuss about nothing - which you aren't. I really trust the 2 specialists' advice on this.
One further point: the specialists said never give vaccines between the shoulder blades as surgery there is a nightmare. HTH.

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Ummm well that was good to know..! Also my vet routinely vac in the leg rather then the neck for the reason state below..  However after having reg vac every year i am in too minds to vac Leo for FELV this year as  he was quite poorly last year...

You would of thought testing for FELV was the obvious thing before vac?

This vet is one of the few in the area that use the vaccine that is "everything" and one of our welfare officers mentions that the vac they use is abit OTT for puss cats is its a real shock to the system.. Which is probably why they charge a whole lot more then many other vets in the area..The trouble is there is no choice... and few people realise what they are getting when theybook a cat in to be vac...

The reason i mention the caller with the siamese is that she wasnt vac and i said that it all sounded very dodgy to me, no decent breeder would pass on a un vac cat...The caller was niave to the extreme, she thought she was getting a bargain! Perhaps she was!

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

No, Sharon, it wasn't the same person I am sure. This was the lady who gave us the food donation.  She told me she's had these cats for years and also has a black moggy she got from Second Chance rescue 7 years ago. Nothing is too good for them, she says. 

The vet is question begins with a 'B' and ends with an 'N' and they are quite near Roxanne. 

[Rosella moggy]

Ooooh Sharon   

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Ummm i wonder what vet that was? I wonder if it was the lady who rang me 2wks ago who was given a breeding queen siamese by a breeder up in london.. The ladies daughter took it on and then gave it to her mum. Puss only 2yrs or so, it sounded abit dodgy to me why a breeder would give a siamese away!! I suggest she get some history of the cat etc..

Nice to see that someone gives us donations!

[Desley (booktigger)]

Wonder why a vet would FeLV a cat that has been vacc'd for it, you normally do that first? It does sound slightly suspect, and I am surprised a vet would immediately remove the lump rather than waiting to see if it would go of its own accord, as it can happen with vaccs (That is why in the US, rabies are given in the leg, as that is the worst vaccine for causing it, and it is easier to remove the leg. Most vets in the US also alternate the vaccination site as it is thought that multiple vaccinations in the same spot can be an issue). I have heard of this in the US, although not sure if any have died from it.

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Well, this wasn't a cat that is going to be a case for us - just a conversation I had with a lady giving us a donation. I didn't feel I could pump her for info too much.  She says puss had previously had vacs with no problems and it was FeLV/FIV tested after this reaction and was neg.

She told me the lump was huge and that the other puss had had a lump on his last jab but that was a lot smaller and did die down. This time, though, it was so alarming the vet cut the whole thing out. 

The lady is wondering whether it could have been a bad batch and is contacting the drugs company - it was the inclusive of FeLV type.

I am wondering whether the vet bungled it somehow. It's not one of our usual vets but they have a reputation for being pricey and not very good. 

I have never heard of a vacine causing cancer. 

[Desley (booktigger)]

Normally only FelV and Rabies cause this, due to the adjuvent (sp?), and it doesn't normally happen so quickly, but they can get lumps that die down within 2 weeks.

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Came across an unusual case today. 

A lady had 2 Siamese and one was due for boosters. Within a few hours, a huge lump appeared at the vac site and the vet thought this was a rare case of vaccination site carcinoma. The lump was removed and puss is fine now, but the lady is getting conflcting advice about whether to vac puss again.

Has anyone else heard of this?