Parasite roundup for 2022

Milder weather and continued increases in pet travel and importation have led to a rapidly changing parasite picture in the UK, and 2022 has been no exception. New data and novel cases have been seen in a range of different parasites.

Numbers of imported rescue cats and dogs have increased over the past few years with the associated risk of exotic pathogens entering the UK. These numbers have been added to in 2022 by Ukrainian pets accompanying people displaced by the war in that country. With the exception of these Ukrainian pets, ESCCAP UK & Ireland does not support importation where pets can be rehomed in the country of origin. Where importation is occurring, ESCCAP UK & Ireland is keen to work with charities to improve screening of animals before importation.

Numbers of cases of Heartworm and Leishmania reported to ESCCAP UK & Ireland continue to remain high, imported from a wide variety of countries both inside Europe and from more distant locations such as South America, Africa and Asia. Another case of suspected horizontal transmission of Leishmania has recently been recorded in the UK (Luker et al, 2022). This is a reminder that Leishmania infection needs to be considered as a differential in dogs with relevant clinical signs living with other positive pets, and in those whose parents have lived or travelled abroad. Clinical presentations are varied and commonly include lymphadenopathy, cutaneous signs, weight loss, splenomegaly and renal signs associated with glomerulonephritis. Less commonly polyarthritis, thrombocytopaenia, ocular inclusion bodies, uveitis and neurological signs associated with spinal and CNS granulomas may be present.