Anaphylaxis and death from Rabies vaccine

[batgirl]

Hi Everyone,

I know that there are a few other older threads that touch on this issue but I am curious whether anyone else has had any recent experiences with adverse reactions to the rabies vaccination, specifically Boehringer & Ingleheim RabVac3? My clinic switched to this version of the rabies vaccine last fall after they could not get the version they normally use from a different manufacturer. They had noticed that many horses were having mild to moderate reactions to the vaccine and as a result to be cautious, when they administered it to the horses in our barn they gave it by itself (without the other fall shots) and with banamine.

My gelding has a rabies allergy which causes him to have fever, lethargy and mild colic symptoms and so we have chosen not to continue giving him the vaccine, but my mare who has had the vaccine every year has never shown any adverse symptoms. My mare started showing colic symptoms about two hours after receiving the vaccine and then went into anaphylaxis. She died before the vet was able to rush back, but the necropsy revealed that the anaphylaxis was so severe that according to my vet even if epinephrine had been administered within seconds of the vaccine (before the mare even had outward symptoms) she likely could not have been saved.

Although I have heard of anaphylaxis from vaccines, I had never heard of such a delayed reaction, and I was also shocked by how many other horses that received this version of the vaccine had mild to moderate reactions as well. Horses in our barn experienced fever, mild colic and extreme swelling all the way up their legs and around their eyes. The company pulled the batch and paid for the veterinary and necropsy costs for my horse. The vaccine was also sent back for testing but after months I have heard nothing about the results of the testing.

I am wondering whether anyone else has had a similar experience or has thoughts on this topic? I understand that anaphylaxis is a potential side effect, although extremely rare, but the fact that so many of our other horses had reactions along with my horse dying and the anaphylaxis being so delayed seems unusual. This situation has been so devastating and I feel like I’ve been left with more questions than answers. I am happy to discuss further on private message as well.

[Xanthoria]

I’ve no experiences like this but just wanted to say I’m so sorry - how devastating…

[Guilherme]

Sorry for the loss of your horse.

To answer your question, IIRC the FDA keeps records of adverse drug occurrences. Since this is a vet. drug the USDA might do so also, but I don’t know for sure.

G.

[batgirl]

Thank you both for the kind words. I really appreciate it!

@Guilherme Thanks for the tip on IIRC. I hadn’t thought of that and will look into it. Interestingly, I submitted a request to the FDA for the record of adverse drug reactions to this vaccine and they told me that they could not release the files because they are part of an ongoing investigation and the release of the files could harm the investigation. That’s one of the reasons I am trying to get some more information about whether this has happened to anyone else at least informally through COTH.

[skydy]

I’m so sorry about your mare. What a terrible shock.

[beowulf]

Nothing helpful to add… but so sorry for your loss. How awful :no:

[poltroon]

That is horrific. I’m so sorry. I hope you get good answers.

[x-halt-salute]

I’m so sorry for your tragic loss.

I do not have any useful information about this particular vaccine (I’m refraining from rabies vaccination for my horse with a history of severe systemic/allergic reactions for now based on reports of severe rabies vaccine reactions this year).

But I do believe that contrary to the traditional wisdom that allergic or anaphylactic responses to equine vaccines occur within minutes, immunologic/allergic reactions can develop more slowly. Mine has a history of showing symptoms of immunologic reaction (hives all over, sweating, rapid respiration, tremors) about 90 minutes after administration of a vaccine. I’m pretty sure there was also a report on this forum earlier this year of another tragic anaphylactic reaction that occurred 1-2 hours after vaccine administration.

I appreciate you sharing what happened, both with members of this community who might be able to use this info to protect immune-challenged horses, and with the vet and vaccine manufacturer, so that this kind of delayed anaphylaxis is known to those who might be able to follow up from a scientific perspective.

Wishing you all the best under these heartbreaking circumstances.

[Guilherme]

@batgirl

Thank you both for the kind words. I really appreciate it!

@Guilherme Thanks for the tip on IIRC. I hadn’t thought of that and will look into it. Interestingly, I submitted a request to the FDA for the record of adverse drug reactions to this vaccine and they told me that they could not release the files because they are part of an ongoing investigation and the release of the files could harm the investigation. That’s one of the reasons I am trying to get some more information about whether this has happened to anyone else at least informally through COTH.

A quick search turned up this: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/fda-adverse-event-reporting-system-faers/fda-adverse-event-reporting-system-faers-public-dashboard

Did a bit deeper in the USDA web site and you might find more.

G.

[Wanderosa]

Wow. I’m so sorry!

[trubandloki]

So sorry for your loss.

I have a horse that is similar to what @x-halt-salute describes and we did not vaccinate her this year either, not worth the risk.

Her first ever vaccine reaction (nine years old, never had any type of reaction before and always vaccinated for a whole list of things) she had hives every where, including facial swelling.
The next year all she received was a rabies vaccine (this was many years ago so do not remember what brand) (with pre-treatment of antihistamines and banamine) and her reaction did not happen until almost an hour later, colic like symptoms, walking backwards, kicking at her belly. So delayed reactions are not unusual.

[JB]

There was a thread not terribly long ago about this - the poster used that vaccine because of a shortage with other companies, and had real problems. But my brief search didn’t find it.

[Leather]

@Guilherme

A quick search turned up this: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/fda-adverse-event-reporting-system-faers/fda-adverse-event-reporting-system-faers-public-dashboard

Did a bit deeper in the USDA web site and you might find more.

G.

I believe that link is only for human drug adverse events.
Veterinary drug adverse event info is here: https://open.fda.gov/apis/animalandveterinary/event/

Vaccines are regulated by the USDA/APHIS not the FDA as they are biologics not drugs.
Not sure if the AE information is publicly available yet. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/veterinary-biologics/adverse-event-reporting/ct_vb_adverse_event

[Garythesquirrel]

I am so sorry for your loss.

My new mare had this same vaccine (I just checked the rabies certificate for the manufacturer) last week and ended up with very stocked up and stiff legs and a few hives in fact, a week later and her legs are still a bit stocked up.

Interesting that my vet told me before she gave the shot to let the clinic know if she had any reaction.

This horse has never had a vaccine reaction in the 8 years I’ve known her

[elsbet]

I, too, am so sorry to hear of this…sending my heartfelt sympathies to you on the loss of your good mare.

[x-halt-salute]

@JB

There was a thread not terribly long ago about this - the poster used that vaccine because of a shortage with other companies, and had real problems. But my brief search didn’t find it.

I feel awful dredging up a post about the loss of a horse, so I’m hoping that nobody will resurrect it as a zombie thread if I link to it here for OP’s benefit. The rabies vaccine in that case was Merial Imrab 3, not B&I RabVac 3. I know nothing about vaccine manufacture, but I would guess that if there’s a connection it would have to be something common to the adjuvants in the two products this year. Might just be a sad coincidence.

[JB]

@x-halt-salute thank you - I’m not sure now if that’s the thread I was thinking of, or the other one I referenced in that thread, But that appears to have been Merck anyway, so… Never mind I guess!

But otoh - it was commented on there that Boerhinger now owns Merial so could they be the same, just different labels?

[x-halt-salute]

@JB

@x-halt-salute thank you - I’m not sure now if that’s the thread I was thinking of, or the other one I referenced in that thread, But that appears to have been Merck anyway, so… Never mind I guess!

But otoh - it was commented on there that Boerhinger now owns Merial so could they be the same, just different labels?

Ah, I had merged those two threads in my memory somehow! Wasn’t Merck Equirab the one that was unavailable recently?

Interesting about the BI-Merial connection. Certainly seems plausible that the products are now the same, or at least involve materials from the same sources. OTOH, maybe it just seems like there are more severe reactions to Imrab/Rabvac this year because the statistical anomalies aren’t spread across a third product?

[JB]

No idea! It’s all pretty confusing if you’re not keeping track

[Morgan]

Dear OP. So sorry for your loss. We lost our horse due to issues with vaccines in February. A very rare event where a bacteria was introduced at the injection sight that eventually led to pulmonary embolism and severe damage to many organs over the following two weeks due to rare bacterial infection housed within the muscle. Very odd and strange occurrence, but devastating none the less. We actually witnessed his final moments and it was awful to say the least so I know how you feel. I am truly, truly sorry for you. It seems odd to have so many other horses in your barn have reactions.