I've read some articles that state, titer test are not a true indication of immunity and that it's the amount of memory cells that are produced at a young age from puppy shots that is a true indicator of protection. As i understand, titer's are a measure of antibodies but give no measure of memory cells, is this correct? Also do memory cell's and antibodies go hand in hand? If antibodies for parvo/distemper are found to be high in a titer test can we assume that memory cell's are also high? Is it possible to test for memory cells from blood? Any answers,or opinion's out there?

From what I've heard, if the titers are high then the immunity cells are too, but low titers are not always because of low memory cell numbers (the dog just hasn't been exposed recently).

I had been thinking about posting the same topic; can't wait for the replies.

BK4jon:
1. If titer is high = memory cells present (with one caveat, i.e. animal has not been transfused with plasma containing the titer)
2. If titer low = memory cells still present or that they may be incapable of mounting a response. The only way to differentiate these 2 states of memory cells is by giving an antigenic stimulus. In general, if the dog achieves a high titer, the memory cells will persist.
3. So why immunize after a high titer has been reached ?: When a high titer is present, the animal can mount an immediate immune response. If titer is low then the immune cells have to gear up for antibody production and this can take upto a week.
4. In general however, once the dog has been immunized and it has achieved a high titer, which later drops with time (low titer) and the dog contracts an illness at this time, it is expected that it will be a mild illness.

Hope this answers some of your questions

According to Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary an antibody titer is described as follows:"A measure of the amount of antibody against a particular antigen in the blood. This titer is also useful in following the course of many acute infectious diseases.A rising titer usually indicates the disease is present and the body is reacting to the specific antigen."

To vaccinate is to give an injection of infectious agents, for the purpose of establishing resistence to a specific infectious disease. The function is to stimulate an immune response in the body by activating T lymphocytes capable of controlling the organism resulting in more or less permanent protection against a disease.

These T lymphocytes(white blood cells) are probably what you are thinking of when you say "memory cells".There are proteins on cells that are recognized by the body and a response to the known invader is triggered if there is exposure to a previously vaccinated disease,resulting in protection.

This is my understanding of how vaccination works and why. I belive it is important to vaccinate your pets and then to establish immunity w/ titers.Periodic rechecks of the levels will tell you if the immune system is still able to defend against whatever disease you vaccinate for.If you ever need to, you can always revaccinate.I haven't had to, but like people, some dogs may not retain immunity and need boosters.

An example is that some people can get chicken pox over and over again, yet most people will not if they had it once.

Hope this helps <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />