Emerging infectious veterinary diseases in the UK*

Emerging infectious veterinary diseases in the UK

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) was introduced in 2000 to allow movement of dogs and cats into the UK from other countries. There is a risk that with increased pet movement the incidence of ‘exotic’ diseases in the UK will increase. This article discusses ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, leishmaniosis and dirofi lariasis as well as cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy – Alabama Rot. Ehrlichiosis is a multisystemic disease caused by the intracellular gram-negative bacterium Ehrlichia canis. Babesiosis is caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoa Babesia canis or Babesia vogeli and results in haemolytic anaemia, pyrexia and splenomegaly. Both babesiosis and ehrlichiosis have been identifi ed in untravelled dogs in the UK. Leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoa Leishmania infantum and is a chronic wasting disease. Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (‘Alabama Rot’) is a recently described canine disease in the UK of unknown aetiology that carries a high mortality rate.