Ticks and tick-borne diseases

  In this article Ian Wright, European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) Guideline Director, provides an update on the threat from ticks to our pets in the UK.

Not only are certain parasites endemic to the UK expanding their demographic range, but as a result of increasing numbers of animals travelling abroad and many being imported into the UK, more exotic parasites are gaining a foothold. Ian Wright of Mount Vets and Head of ESCCAP UK & Ireland, offers advice on what to look out for in first-opinion practice to try and arrest this parasitic spread.

Reports of Babesia canis being diagnosed in the UK sometimes relate to dogs that have not travelled outside the UK. This is a reminder of the need to be alert to the presence of vector-borne diseases not only in pets which have been abroad but also those with no history of travel. BSAVA has produced key information for the profession about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of babesiosis. Last reviewed 2023.

Protozoal and arthropod-borne infections cause important diseases in dogs and cats. Some diseases, particularly arthropod-borne, are endemic to some areas because they are transmitted by vectors restricted by geographical boundaries. However, these diseases are frequently also presented in non-endemic areas as a result of the travel and importation of animals. In addition, some of these diseases are zoonotic and, therefore, of public health concern. This chapter looks at general laboratory diagnosis of protozoal and arthropod-borne diseases and diagnostic tests for specific disease. Case examples are included.