PURDUE VACCINE STUDY
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Please print and give your veterinarian a copy of the
current research being done at Purdue University Vet School under the direction
of Dr. Larry Glickman. They are half way through this 5 year study of
Vaccine-Induced Autoimmunity in the dog and there is already some evidence of
thyroid, heart, bone disease (HOD like symptoms) due to vaccines. Many Dane,
Beagle and Golden Retriever breeders have known for some time there is a problem
with vaccines. Soon science will prove what we have known for some time.
If you veterinarian has any doubt or questions (s)he can
contact Dr. Glickman at Purdue to see that this is indeed a valid study. Below
is a copy of Dr. LaRosa's statement regarding the study. He is a Trustee for the
Hayward Genetics Foundation, they are funding in part this research.
Dr. Linda Arndt
Blackwatch Great Dane Kennels
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VACCINE SAFETY (?)
A Possible Etiology of Autoimmune Diseases
By William R. La Rosa, M.D. Trustee- Hayward Foundation
The Hayward Foundation is dedicated to research and
eradication of human genetic diseases.
There is much anecdotal hearsay about the safety of
vaccines in dogs as well as in humans.
The Vaccine Safety Committee recently emphasized the need
for more definitive research on possible adverse effects during the development
of new vaccines and vaccine combinations.
(National Academy Press, Washington D.C. 1994).
When a dog vaccine safety issue was brought to our
attention by Laura Kiaulenas, a prominent Harlequin Great Dane breeder, and
after reading articles by Jean Dodds DVM, we decided to fund a study to prove or
disprove the supposi-tion of multiple diseases, acute and chronic, caused by
vaccination.
If indeed, many breeders are correct, then is the dog a
canary sentinel, and are human similarly being affected, and if so can we
identify the dog or human who is genetically susceptible to these reactions ?
We were fortunate that prominent and respected researchers, Drs. Larry T. Glickman, Harm HogenEsch, Juan I. Azona-Olivera, J. Catherine Scott-Montcrieff, and Paul W. Snyder of Purdue University, School of Veterinary Medicine, agreed to undertake the study.
The results are enlightening and they are
enthusiastically working on the second phase, a study of longer duration.
They presented a paper to the International Veterinary
Vaccines and Diagnostics Conference, July 27 - 31, 1997, in Madison, Wisconsin,
hosted by the University of Wisconsin and at the International Canine
Immunogenetics and Immunologcal Diseases Conference at the School of Veterinary
Medicine at UC Davis, July 31-98 - August 2, 1998.
These proceedings have been published in "Advances in
Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine." Another manuscript
"Induced Serum Auto antibodies in Young Beagles", has been submitted
to a human immunology journal "Clinical Immunology and Immmunopathology."
Their study was based on the increasing concern among
veterinarians and breeders that current vaccination protocols adversely affect
the health of dogs.
This concern has largely been based on an overwhelming
anecdotal and circumstantial
evidence.
They studied the effects of routinely used vaccination
protocol on the immune and endocrine systems of Beagles. One control group was
not vaccinated and the other group was vaccinated with a commercial multivalent
vaccine at 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age and with a rabies vaccine at 16
weeks of age.
A definition of Autoimmune disease is now necessary.
In dogs as well as humans, the body sometimes forms
antibodies against itself (self antigens) which can lead to diseases of the
pancreas (diabetes), thyroid (Hashimoto's Disease), collagen and fibronectin (Scleroderma,
Lupus), cardiolipin (Cardiomyopathy), etc.
VACCINE SAFETY A Possible Etiology of Autoimmune Diseases
By William R. La Rosa, M.D. (Trustee)
The body literally attacks itself to cause the autoimmune
disease. The vaccinated group developed significant levels of autoantibodies
against fibronectin, laminin, DNA, albumin, Cytochrome C, transferrin,
cardiolipin, collagen. The re-sponses varied among individual animals, probably
reflecting genetic differences.
The clinical significance of those autoantibodies remains
to be determined,but speculation must be that something in the vaccines is one
of the etiologies (in the genetically susceptible dog) of such diseases as
Cardiomyopathy, Lupus Erythematosus, Glomerulonephritis, etc.
I apologise for using these technical terms but this is a
complex study and adds validity to the report.
Autoimmune diseases are quite common in dogs as well as in
humans, but much easier to study in dogs, especially since various breeds have
genetic susceptibility or predisposition.
The high prevalence of autoimmune disease in specific
breeds makes it easier to search for the genetic markers.
Humans are much more diverse and therefore more difficult
to study.
We hope that many Breed Associations and the AKC Foundation
will join us in expanding these studies with the needed research funds. Longer
term studies are needed to determine the clinical importance of vaccine-induced
autoantibodies and to identify markers of genetic susceptability.
These are truly remarkable results.
The next step is to study the development of safer
vaccines, or possibly modify the recommended dosages, and the timing of
vaccinations. Many vaccines, including a vaccine for use in humans, contain
fibronectin. This appears to be a common contaminant.
Other antigens will be studied.
A general theme of the Conference was that vaccine immunity
lasts longer than the manufacturer claims; rabies is probably effective for at
least 3 years and we are probably over-vaccinating our dogs. Even the vaccine
industry tells you that there is never 100% protection. Therefore disease is
seen even in vaccinated groups.
In Europe, vaccines are prohibited once the disease is eliminated because the fear of reversion to virulence of the modified live virus.
Autoimmune diseases in dogs are clinically similar to those in humans. We hope that Veterinary and Medical Schools will continue and expand these preliminary research studies.
Our companion dogs are crashing all around us and maybe we are now finding one of the sources of the problems.
It has been so easy to point fingers at breeders but
they may not be entirely at fault.
Let us continue this important research to help our future
generations of dogs and possibly children.
Yes, indiscriminate breeding can genetically predispose the dog but is the trigger mechanism indiscriminate vaccinations ?
My personal interpretation of the above information in brief is:
1 )These studies appear to support the conclusions of some breeders that multiple vaccinations may be harmful to dogs. Be cautious and keep current in the scientific literature.
2 ) Current vaccines induce autoantibodies. Contaminants may be part of the problem.
3 ) We need to research and explain the mechanism. Does it alter the DNA causing genetic abnormality or is the susceptible gene already in place ? Can we find the genetic marker to avoid the adverse reaction of vaccination?
4 ) The dog is a good model for study because different
breeds already have susceptibility to specific diseases and genetic markers will
be easier to find than in other diverse animals (and humans).
5 ) What is the solution or cure, and especially how is this applicable to
humans.