FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of treating a dog for canine diseases comprising administering to the dog therapeutically effective amounts of vaccine, wherein the vaccine comprises viral antigens, a bacterin, or both, and wherein the vaccine is administered subcutaneously or orally according to the schedules provided herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vaccines against major canine infectious disease have been available for three to four decades, and they have greatly reduced the incidence of these infectious diseases in dogs (Appel, M J. 1999. Adv Vet Med. 41:309-324). Pfizer Animal Health sells several vaccines for prevention of diseases associated with various viral and bacterial diseases in dogs. The VANGUARD® line of vaccines, including core canine vaccines, is used for the vaccination of healthy dogs 6 weeks of age or older as an aid in preventing canine distemper (CD) caused by canine distemper (CD) virus, infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), respiratory disease caused by canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), canine parainfluenza (CPI) caused by canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus, and canine parvoviral enteritis caused by canine parvovirus (CPV) (Mouzin D E, et al., 2004, JAVMA, 224: 55-60).

CD is a high morbidity, high mortality viral disease occurring in unvaccinated dog populations worldwide. Approximately 50% of non-vaccinated, non-immune dogs infected with CDV develop clinical signs and approximately 90% of those dogs die (Swango L J. 1983. Norden News 58:4-10). ICH, caused by CAV-1, is a universal, sometimes fatal, viral disease of dogs characterized by hepatic and generalized endothelial lesions. The respiratory disease caused by CAV-2, in severe cases, may include pneumonia and bronchopneumonia. CAV-2 vaccine has been shown to cross-protect against ICH caused by CAV-1 (Bass E P, et al., 1980, JAVMA, 177:234-242). The upper respiratory disease caused by CPI virus may be mild or subclinical, with signs becoming more severe if concurrent infection with other respiratory pathogens exists. The enteric disease caused by CPV is characterized by sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea, often hemorrhagic, and may be accompanied by leukopenia (Appel M J, et al., 1979, Vet Rec, 105:156-159).

Major animal health companies market core canine vaccines in their companion animal vaccine franchise. However, all of these vaccines are delivered by the parenteral route, especially subcutaneous injections. A canine vaccine that could be delivered easily would provide increased convenience of vaccine delivery to the pet, the veterinarian, and the pet owner, and allow for personnel untrained in parenteral administration techniques to deliver canine core vaccines to animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein is a method of treating a dog for canine diseases comprising administering to the dog therapeutically effective amounts of vaccine, wherein the vaccine comprises viral antigens, a bacterin, or both, and wherein the vaccine is administered subcutaneously or orally in a first dose, orally in a second dose, orally in an optional third dose, and orally in one or more annual doses. The viral antigens comprise one or more of 1) canine distemper (CD) virus, 2) canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), 3) canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus, 4) canine parvovirus (CPV), 5) and canine coronavirus (CCV), and wherein the bacterin comprises one or more ofLeptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. Pomona, L. bratislava, andBordetella bronchiseptica; and any combination of viral antigens and bacterin thereof.

Also provided herein is a method of treating a dog for canine diseases comprising administering to the dog therapeutically effective amounts of vaccine, wherein the vaccine comprises viral antigens, a bacterin, or both, and wherein the vaccine is administered subcutaneously in a first and in a second dose, and orally in a third dose, and orally in one or more annual doses. The viral antigens comprise one or more of 1) CD virus, 2) CAV-2, 3) CPI virus, 4) CPV, 5) and CCV, and the bacterin comprises one or more ofLeptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. Pomona, L. bratislava, andBordetella bronchiseptica; and any combination of viral antigens and bacterin thereof.

In one embodiment, the vaccine comprises one or more live viruses, one or more modified-live viruses, one or more inactivated viruses, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the viral antigens are CD virus, CAV-2, CPI virus, and CPV. In another embodiment, these four viral antigens are combined with a bacterin composed ofLeptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, andL. pomona. In yet another embodiment, these four viral antigens are combined with a bacterin composed ofBordetella bronchiseptica. In still another embodiment, these four viral antigens are combined with the CCV antigen and a bacterin composed ofLeptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, andL. pomona.

The treated canine diseases comprise one or more of the following: 1) CD caused by CD virus; 2) infectious canine hepatitis caused by CAV-1; 3) respiratory disease caused by CAV-2 or respiratory CCV; 4) CPI caused by CPI virus; 5) enteritis caused by CCV or CPV; 6) leptospirosis caused byLeptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona, orL. Bratislava; and 7) infectious tracheobronchitis (“kennel cough”) caused byBordetella bronchiseptica.

In one embodiment, the treated diseases comprise 1) CD caused by CD virus; 2) infectious canine hepatitis caused by CAV-1; 3) respiratory disease caused by CAV-2; 4) CPI caused by CPI virus; 5) and canine parvoviral enteritis caused by CPV.

In one embodiment, the second dose is administered from about 7 to about 35 days, inclusive, after the first dose. In a more specific embodiment, the second dose is administered about 3 weeks after the first dose. In another embodiment, the third dose is administered from about 7 to about 35 days, inclusive, after the second dose. In a more specific embodiment, the third dose is administered about 3 weeks after the second dose. In still another embodiment, the annual dose is administered about one year after the first dose. In yet another embodiment, annual doses administered after said annual dose are administered repeatedly about one year after the immediately prior annual dose.

