Evaluation of an equine multi-antigen rabies combination vaccine in pregnant mares

Abstract

Mares are commonly vaccinated during pregnancy, especially in the late third trimester, with multiple vaccine products containing a variety of antigens. Currently, a new core antigens vaccine containing rabies virus, tetanus toxoid, eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus, western equine encephalomyelitis virus, and West Nile virus with and without the inclusion of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus is used in later term mares. Use of this vaccine has not been evaluated for safety in pregnant broodmares. We determined the safety of this vaccine in pregnant mares as it pertains to live foaling rate and per cycle pregnancy rate. Findings indicated that the use of a new multi-antigen rabies combination vaccine had no impact on live foaling rate nor per cycle pregnancy rates.