Vaccines for Feline Contraception: GonaCon GnRH-hemocyanin Conjugate Immunocontraceptive

Overview

Journal J Feline Med Surg

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2015 Sep 2

PMID 26323799

Citations 7

Authors

Valerie A W Benka

Julie K Levy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Vaccine: GonaCon™ is the trade name of a GnRH-hemocyanin conjugate immunocontraceptive vaccine formulation shown to prevent reproduction and inhibit production of sex hormones in numerous mammalian species for extended durations. GonaCon is currently registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for contraception of female white-tailed deer, and GonaCon™-Equine for female wild horses and burros. Multiple formulations of this GnRH-hemocyanin conjugate immunocontraceptive vaccine have been developed at the National Wildlife Research Center in the United States.

Evidence Base: Three studies employing an early generation vaccine formulation indicated its potential for multi-year contraception of female cats (median duration of effect in excess of 39.7 months). The contraceptive effect for male cats was less predictable and of shorter duration (median duration of effect 14 months). Since these initial feline studies there have been formulation composition changes, and further investigation of the safety, efficacy and duration of this contraceptive vaccine for cats is warranted.

Future Prospects: Individual country regulations will determine if GonaCon could be registered for unowned, free-roaming and/or pet cats.

Citing Articles

Reversible control of reproduction in tom cats: medical options for manipulating libido and fertility.

Ferre-Dolcet L, Romagnoli S J Feline Med Surg. 2023; 25(5):1098612X231171406.

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Aspects of Phage-Based Vaccines for Protein and Epitope Immunization.

Palma M Vaccines (Basel). 2023; 11(2).

PMID: 36851313 PMC: 9967953. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020436.

Short Term Safety, Immunogenicity, and Reproductive Effects of Combined Vaccination With Anti-GnRH (Gonacon) and Rabies Vaccines in Female Feral Cats.

Novak S, Yakobson B, Sorek S, Morgan L, Tal S, Nivy R Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8:650291.

PMID: 34041290 PMC: 8141635. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.650291.

Phage constructs targeting gonadotropin-releasing hormone for fertility control: evaluation in cats.

Johnson A, Jones R, Kraneburg C, Cochran A, Samoylov A, Wright J J Feline Med Surg. 2019; 22(8):685-695.

PMID: 31566070 PMC: 10814494. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X19875831.

Effectiveness of GonaCon as an immunocontraceptive in colony-housed cats.

Fischer A, Benka V, Briggs J, Driancourt M, Maki J, Mora D J Feline Med Surg. 2018; 20(8):786-792.

PMID: 29463201 PMC: 11104141. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X18758549.

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