31 May All You Need to Know About Rabies Titer Test
In recent history, COVID-19 has prompted countries around the globe to roll out vaccination drives. There has been a lot of uproar regarding the vaccination and people are mighty apprehensive about the whole situation. Recent skepticism aside, vaccination drives have been conducted worldwide, and are the reason we have successfully eradicated a number of deadly diseases. Polio, measles, mumps, hepatitis, and tetanus are just some examples of life-threatening infections which have since become non-existent and preventable. Not all diseases are human- to-human transmitted; some diseases are zoonotic in nature, meaning they’re spread from animals to humans.
Caring for an animal is an additional responsibility a pet parent has to bear; not just for their pet’s health, but for their own as well. Zoonotic infections include leptospirosis, parasites, and rabies and as these can spread from a pet to their owner, vaccinating the pet becomes essential to avoid any such mishap. In fact, vaccination against rabies is considered a core vaccine in most countries worldwide.
Rabies is a viral infection, usually transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal. Initial symptoms after infection resemble the flu and can last for multiple days. The virus can also lay dormant inside the host body and become active at a later time.
So, what can be done? If a pet is vaccinated, their body develops antibodies to act as a shield against the disease and eventually destroy it. Therefore, it is always recommended to vaccinate your pet early and not wait till they get sick, as this isn’t good for their health and spreads diseases faster.
When preparing for international travel with a pet, there are many factors to take into consideration, such as the import regulations of the destination country and the safety of your pet. A majority of countries ask for a titer test for the pet to be allowed entry, some of them even asking for the validity and time of the test. Such countries are usually rabies-free, like Europe or Australia/New Zealand.
What is Rabies Titer Test and its Purpose
Rabies Titer Test is an antibody test and is the only validation that can confirm if a pet has been vaccinated against rabies. It is also known as Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titer Test (RNAT). This test checks for the presence of antibodies that neutralizes the rabies virus in an animal’s bloodstream and confirms that the pet is immune to rabies.
A titer test is necessary before any international travel with a pet to ensure it is free of any viral infection and has zero chance of infecting local animals and wildlife in the destination country. The test is taken at least 30 days after vaccination, so there is adequate time for antibodies to form.
Also, you must note that your pet should be microchipped before the blood sample for the titer test is taken, and the microchip number should be mentioned on the test submission form along with the details of vaccination for easy access and future reference.
There is a lot of paperwork and planning before you can fly your pet anywhere. A lot of safety and comfort boxes have to be ticked, especially for our furry friends, so make sure you plan ahead and take expert help. A pet relocation or transportation company can help streamline the whole process and make it as simple and hassle-free as possible.
