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- Title
Effectiveness of GonaCon as an immunocontraceptive in colony-housed cats.
- Authors
Fischer, Amy; Benka, Valerie A. W.; Briggs, Joyce R.; Driancourt, Marc-Antoine; Maki, Joanne; Mora, Darcy S. O.; Morris, Kevin N.; Myers, Kayla A.; Rhodes, Linda; Vansandt, Lindsey M.; Weedon, George Robert; Wolf, Julie; Levy, Julie K.
- Abstract
Objectives Non-surgical contraceptive management of free-roaming cat populations is a global goal for public health and humane reasons. The objectives of this study were to measure the duration of contraception following a single intramuscular injection of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-based vaccine (GonaCon) and to confirm its safe use in female cats living in colony conditions. Methods GonaCon (0.5 ml/cat) was administered intramuscularly to 20 intact female cats (queens), and saline was administered to 10 queens serving as sham-treated controls. Beginning in late February, 4 months after injection, all cats were housed with fertile male cats in a simulated colony environment. Time to pregnancy, fetal counts and vaccine-elicited injection-site reactions were evaluated. Results All control cats (n = 10/10) and 60% (n = 12/20) of vaccinated cats became pregnant within 4 months of the introduction of males. Two additional vaccinates became pregnant (70%; n = 14/20) within 1 year of treatment. Average fetal counts were significantly lower in vaccinated cats than in control cats. Vaccinates had a significantly longer (P = 0.0120) median time to conception (212 days) compared with controls (127.5 days). Injection-site reactions ranging from swelling to transient granulomatous masses were observed in 45% (n = 9/20) of vaccinated cats. Conclusions and relevance A single dose of GonaCon provided contraception lasting for a minimum of 1 year in 30% (n = 6/20) of treated cats. The level of contraception induced by this GonaCon dose and vaccine lot was not sufficiently effective to be recommended for use in free-roaming cats.
- Publication
Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 2018, Vol 20, Issue 8, p786
- ISSN
1098-612X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/1098612X18758549