ESCCAP spring update 2019

Drawing from information published in the ESCCAP UK & Ireland Parasite Forecasts (www.esccapuk.org.uk/parasite-forecast-uk/), this article provides a brief ‘roundup’ of parasitology-related activities and events in 2018, identifies key themes and analyses trends and interest from the public.

The big three themes of 2018 were:

Continuing from 2017, 2018 has highlighted the increasing problems of illegal and legal pet importation. Campaigns such as the BVA's ‘Trojan dog’ campaign and increasing numbers of exotic parasites being diagnosed in dogs from all over the world has spurred interest in this topic. BVA's spring 2018 ‘Voice of the Veterinary Profession’ survey showed that 29% of vets in practice have seen at least one suspected illegal puppy importation case in the last 12 months (BVA, 2018). BVA surveys have also revealed more than nine out of ten companion animal vets in the UK are concerned about the import of rescue dogs from abroad, with three-quarters feeling the numbers have increased over the last year. Reports to ESCCAP UK & Ireland reflect this with cases of leishmaniosis, heartworm, Ehrlichia canis and Linguatula serrata in imported and travelled dogs being consistently high throughout 2018.