Imported diseases in small animals

Abstract

IN the light of recent changes to quarantine legislation in the UK, it is expected that there will be a huge increase in the number of travelling pets going abroad for short holiday periods and also a rise in the number of conventional importations from Europe. These animals will be exposed to a number of parasitic infections which are currently exotic to the UK. Veterinary surgeons in the UK are, as yet, ill-equipped to diagnose, treat or prevent such diseases. This article discusses vector-borne infections which pose a health risk to pet animals and aims to provide a concise summary of the most relevant diseases, offering advice to indicate a diagnosis and suggesting further sources of information. The vast majority of importations are expected to be dogs; the article therefore concentrates on diseases in dogs, although cats are also discussed briefly.