>So they inoculate with an inert version of the bacteria that causes the >infection? Didn't know you could stymie bacteria like that?
Vaccines for bacterial disease (like leptospirosis in dogs for instance) do not cause the disease (that would certainly be undesirable), they use inactive or killed bacteria that stimulate an immune reaction to the antigens in the bacteria. The T-cells can then "jump into action" when a live bacteria of the same strain is encountered. We actually do tend to WAY over-vaccinate our pets. Generally the only reason to re-vaccinate is in cases like the flu where the infectious agent mutates (we don't for instance get most childhood vaccines throughout our lives since those give lifelong immunity). Most vaccines for pets are not changed year-to-year so there is little reason to vaccinate past the original series of shots they get. There is a big push right on doing more research on immunity several years out so we can extend the time between shots for things like rabies that are often state requirements. MJS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:307043 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
