Let's look at a few facts about R. sanguineus. Commonly known as the ‘brown dog tick’ or ‘kennel tick’, this species prefers dogs as a host. It is a tropical/subtropical tick and commonly reaches high numbers in southern Europe (see Figure 1) with activity mainly between March and October. However, R. sanguineus can survive in the temperate climates of central and northern Europe when protected within domestic environments such as homes and kennels. Although not indigenous to the UK, it has been identified on pets and in kennels and dwellings after import from mainland Europe and elsewhere. As such, this tick is a risk to pets being taken abroad. R. sanguineus is an important vector for diseases such as babesiosis, hepatozoonosis, filariosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, tularaemia and rikettsial infections such as Mediterranean spotted fever — many of which are zoonotic and not currently present in the UK.
It is true that changes to PETS has increased the risk of exotic ticks entering the UK. However, even predating the removal of the mandatory tick treatment in 2012, R. sanguineus infestations were found in the UK. In 2007, following a trip to France, one unsuspecting owner found that they had brought back more than a few souvenirs when they realised that their home was being overrun by ticks. Despite complying with PETS and their dog receiving the mandatory tick treatment, at least one tick slipped through the net and survived the journey home to continue a fast and furious lifecycle which soon, thanks to the heat from an Aga in their kitchen, led to a house infestation of grand proportions. The situation was so severe that the infestation even spread to the home of a relative, who had not travelled abroad with their dogs. Figure 2 illustrates the number of ticks removed by the owner from the travelled dog over a 3 week period — this can only hint at the number of ticks that were living in the home environment.
At present, R. sanguineus is only at risk of establishment within domestic environments in the UK, as our climate does not support the long-term survival of this tropical/subtropical tick outside. However, climate change could increase our susceptibility for establishment in the future. Following the removal of the mandatory tick treatment from PETS, it is more important than ever to advise clients to protect their pets from ticks when travelling abroad and to remain vigilant about removing any ticks found on the pet with a suitable tick removal device. R. sanguineus is not the only disease carrying tick found abroad, it is important to remember that other species can be found all over Europe and in the UK so tick control is important regardless of location in order to prevent the spread of diseases.