The threat of ticks and tickborne disease – a cocktail of risk

After the introduction of Babesia canis to Essex and the establishment of Rhipicephalus ticks in UK homes, the natural reaction of the veterinary profession has been to look for a reason for these breaches in our national biosecurity. The prime suspect rapidly became the Pet Travel Scheme and the dropping of the compulsory tick treatment before pets return to the UK, with calls from UK veterinary surgeons and nurses to have this rule reinstated. A petition has been set up online to put pressure on the Government to consider its reintroduction, and ESCCAP UK & Ireland holds the view that it is important that it is discussed as part of pet travel rules as a whole if they are renegotiated in the light of Brexit. The dropping of the compulsory tick treatment however is just one small part of a complex jigsaw of factors that is putting the UK at risk.