Feline Injection Site Sarcomas

Shaw, S. C., M. S. Kent, et al. (2009). "Temporal changes in characteristics of injection-site sarcomas in cats: 392 cases (1990-2006)." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234(3): 376-380.

The first suggestion that vaccine injections and the development of sarcomas in cats were associated was in October, 1991. Histologic and epidemiologic evaluations have supported a causal relationship between injections and the development of sarcomas. The most commonly indicated vaccines were those for rabies virus and feline leukemia (FeLV). In November 1996, the Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force (VAFSTF) was formed and one of its original tasks was to standardize injection sites. Prior to the recommendations, the majority of vaccinations were given in the interscapular region. The VAFSTF recommendations were to administer the rabies vaccine in the right rear leg as distal as possible, the FeLV vaccine in the left rear leg as distal as possible, and the FVRCP in the right shoulder. This study examined injection-site sarcomas (ISS) in 392 cats in order to evaluate changes in anatomic location and histologic classification of these sarcomas and the signalment of affected cats before and after publication of the VAFSTF recommendations. The results of the study indicated a high proportion of ISS in the interscapular region prior to publication of the recommendations (53.4%) and a significant proportional decrease (39.5%) after publication and likely adoption of the recommendations. There was also a significant decrease in lateral thoracic ISS that suggested tumors in these locations might have been caused by interscapular injections that were aberrantly administered. However, after 1996 the proportion of ISS on the limbs of cats and on the lateral aspects of the abdomen increased. This creates cause for concern because lateral abdominal tumors can be challenging, if not more difficult to treat, than those in the interscapular region. These results lead the authors to recommend that the VAFSTF recommendations be adhered to more strictly with emphasis on placement of injections in limbs as distally as possible. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Romanelli, G., L. Marconato, et al. (2008). "Analysis of prognostic factors associated with injection-site sarcomas in cats: 57 cases (2001-2007)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(8): 1193-9.
>> PubMed Abstract

Kirpensteijn, J. (2006). "Feline injection site-associated sarcoma: Is it a reason to critically evaluate our vaccination policies?" Vet Microbiol 117(1): 59-65.
>> PubMed Abstract

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Shaw, S. C., M. S. Kent, et al. (2009). "Temporal changes in characteristics of injection-site sarcomas in cats: 392 cases (1990-2006)." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234(3): 376-380.

The first suggestion that vaccine injections and the development of sarcomas in cats were associated was in October, 1991. Histologic and epidemiologic evaluations have supported a causal relationship between injections and the development of sarcomas. The most commonly indicated vaccines were those for rabies virus and feline leukemia (FeLV). In November 1996, the Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force (VAFSTF) was formed and one of its original tasks was to standardize injection sites. Prior to the recommendations, the majority of vaccinations were given in the interscapular region. The VAFSTF recommendations were to administer the rabies vaccine in the right rear leg as distal as possible, the FeLV vaccine in the left rear leg as distal as possible, and the FVRCP in the right shoulder. This study examined injection-site sarcomas (ISS) in 392 cats in order to evaluate changes in anatomic location and histologic classification of these sarcomas and the signalment of affected cats before and after publication of the VAFSTF recommendations. The results of the study indicated a high proportion of ISS in the interscapular region prior to publication of the recommendations (53.4%) and a significant proportional decrease (39.5%) after publication and likely adoption of the recommendations. There was also a significant decrease in lateral thoracic ISS that suggested tumors in these locations might have been caused by interscapular injections that were aberrantly administered. However, after 1996 the proportion of ISS on the limbs of cats and on the lateral aspects of the abdomen increased. This creates cause for concern because lateral abdominal tumors can be challenging, if not more difficult to treat, than those in the interscapular region. These results lead the authors to recommend that the VAFSTF recommendations be adhered to more strictly with emphasis on placement of injections in limbs as distally as possible. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Romanelli, G., L. Marconato, et al. (2008). "Analysis of prognostic factors associated with injection-site sarcomas in cats: 57 cases (2001-2007)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(8): 1193-9.
>> PubMed Abstract

Kirpensteijn, J. (2006). "Feline injection site-associated sarcoma: Is it a reason to critically evaluate our vaccination policies?" Vet Microbiol 117(1): 59-65.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Understanding Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Grant, C. K., E. A. Fink, et al. (2009). "Improved health and survival of FIV-infected cats is associated with the presence of autoantibodies to the primary receptor, CD134." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(47): 19980-5.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen of cats, causing lifelong infection and ultimately death from immunosuppression. These researchers examined antibody levels to various viral and cellular proteins in stored serum samples collected from FIV-infected cats over 30 years. They found very strong antiviral responses to several virus proteins, including the major surface protein of the virus. Interestingly, they also found evidence of antibodies to the feline cellular protein used by the virus to attach to and infect the cell (CD134). Even more remarkable, they found that this antibody only bound the cellular protein when the viral attachment protein was bound to it. Thus, binding of the virus to this cellular protein reveals a site on the cellular protein that is not normally “visible” to the immune system of the cat, leading to antibody production to this cellular protein. In a laboratory experiment, they found that not only did antibodies to the virus protein inhibited virus infection, but antibodies to the cellular protein targeted by the virus did so as well. When they evaluated antibody levels from cats of known health status, the highest percentage of cats positive for this cell-specific antibody were healthy and asymptomatic. In contrast, samples negative for this antibody were largely acquired from cats that were ill. In assessing viral load in the blood of 20 infected cats and comparing that to antibody levels to the CD134, the researchers found that cats with high viral loads (poorer prognosis) did not have measurable levels of antibody to the CD134. The findings are consistent with a role for anti-cell receptor antibodies in protection from virus spread and disease progression. [MK]
>> Free full text article

Related articles:
Hosie, M. J., D. Addie, et al. (2009). "Feline immunodeficiency ABCD guidelines on prevention and management." J Feline Med Surg 11(7): 575-84.
>> Free full text article

Levy, J., C. Crawford, et al. (2008). "2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelines." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 300-316.
>> Free full text article

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Grant, C. K., E. A. Fink, et al. (2009). "Improved health and survival of FIV-infected cats is associated with the presence of autoantibodies to the primary receptor, CD134." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(47): 19980-5.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen of cats, causing lifelong infection and ultimately death from immunosuppression. These researchers examined antibody levels to various viral and cellular proteins in stored serum samples collected from FIV-infected cats over 30 years. They found very strong antiviral responses to several virus proteins, including the major surface protein of the virus. Interestingly, they also found evidence of antibodies to the feline cellular protein used by the virus to attach to and infect the cell (CD134). Even more remarkable, they found that this antibody only bound the cellular protein when the viral attachment protein was bound to it. Thus, binding of the virus to this cellular protein reveals a site on the cellular protein that is not normally “visible” to the immune system of the cat, leading to antibody production to this cellular protein. In a laboratory experiment, they found that not only did antibodies to the virus protein inhibited virus infection, but antibodies to the cellular protein targeted by the virus did so as well. When they evaluated antibody levels from cats of known health status, the highest percentage of cats positive for this cell-specific antibody were healthy and asymptomatic. In contrast, samples negative for this antibody were largely acquired from cats that were ill. In assessing viral load in the blood of 20 infected cats and comparing that to antibody levels to the CD134, the researchers found that cats with high viral loads (poorer prognosis) did not have measurable levels of antibody to the CD134. The findings are consistent with a role for anti-cell receptor antibodies in protection from virus spread and disease progression. [MK]
>> Free full text article

Related articles:
Hosie, M. J., D. Addie, et al. (2009). "Feline immunodeficiency ABCD guidelines on prevention and management." J Feline Med Surg 11(7): 575-84.
>> Free full text article

Levy, J., C. Crawford, et al. (2008). "2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelines." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 300-316.
>> Free full text article

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Follow us on Twitter

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