Up until now, veterinarians have been able to vaccinate against most of the major diseases challenging cats today. These being, feline enteritis, feline flu and more recently, leukaemia. However, one of the contributing pathogens in the feline respiratory disease complex has been chlamydia.

Chlamydia is mainly characterised by conjunctivitis and is predominantly seen in young cats from 5 - 9 months of age. Once contracted, cats can be carriers for as long as 18 months post infection.
7-10 day old kittens are also vulnerable to neonatal conjunctivitis with "sticky-eye" symptoms persisting for some time.

Whilst conjunctivitis is seen as the main clinical sign in cats, other less common conditions include, abortion, polyarthritis and pneumonitis. Reproductive capability has also been suggested as being impaired by cats contracting this bacterial disease.

Traditional methods of control have been by the extensive use of antibiotics for up to 3-4 weeks. However, their constant use has been contraindicated due to colouring effects on the cat's teeth and bone tissue.

Now, the disease can be better controlled through vaccination with a new vaccine that has just been made available to Australian veterinary practitioners.

Fel-O-Vax 4 and 5 vaccines contain the chlamydia antigen as well as the other major antigens referred to above. The only difference between the two vaccines is the inclusion of leukaemia in Fel-O-Vax 5. Otherwise, they both will control feline enteritis, chlamydia and feline flu.

Manufacturers of the new vaccines, Fort Dodge Animal Health, say the availability of the new vaccines represents a major step forward in providing cat owners with an easy, cost-effective solution to providing disease protection. Up to 5 diseases can be controlled with the one injection! Kittens, 8 weeks of age and older and previously unvaccinated cats will require two doses 3-4 weeks apart. Annual boosting with a single dose of vaccine is recommended for adult cats.