Travelling Pet

Question 1

What are of concern regarding travelling pets?

Answer 1

*Ancylostoma caninum
*Dirofilaria immitis & Dirofilaria repens
*Thelazia callipaeda
*Echinococcus multilocularis
*Canine Leishmaniasis
*Canine Babesiosis

Question 2

What does the Pet travel scheme mean?

Answer 2

Pets allowed to entre UK without quarantine as long as they comply with regulations

Question 3

What does an owner have to do with the Pet travel scheme?

Answer 3

*All dogs must be treated w praziquantel 1-5days before Entry to UK
*A vet must record tx in animal passport
*Repeat tx again 28 days after return

Question 4

What is babesia?

Answer 4

Intra-erythrocytic apicomplexan
transmitted by ticks

Question 5

What ticks transmit Babesia canis?

Answer 5

Dermacentor reticulatus
Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Question 6

What does babesia morphology look like?

Answer 6

Merozoites = divergent pairs (pear shaped) within RBC
Sporozoite = tear shaped - enter RBCs
Trophozoite = ring within RBC

Question 7

What size are B.canis?

Answer 7

4-5um

Question 8

What is the life cycle of babesia?

Answer 8

1* Merozoites divide by asexual binary fission in red blood cells
2* Tick ingests the infected red blood cells
3* Multiplication and sexual reproduction in the tick
4* Dissemination of Babesia throughout the tissues into the ovaries
(TRANS OVARIAN TRANSMISSION)
5* Infection passes onto new host by the next generation of ticks
6* As the tick attaches and starts to feed, sporogony occurs in salivary glands
7* Sporozoites injected into host with the tick saliva
8* Sporozoites invade red blood cells and start to divide (merogony)

Question 9

What does canine babesiosis cause in dogs?

Answer 9

• Acute, often fatal in naive dogs
• Anaemia arises from haemolysis
• Pale mucus membranes
• Depression
• Splenomegaly
• Complicated babesiosis
• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
• Multiple organ dysfunction

Question 10

How is canine babesiosis diagnosed?

Answer 10

• History of recent travel
• Clinical signs
• Giemsa stained blood smear to identify merozoites

Question 11

How is canine babesiosis treated?

Answer 11

Imidocarb

Question 12

What can be used to control ticks?

Answer 12

*Fipronil
*Deltamethrin collar
*Flurolaner
*Imidacloprid + flumethrin collar

Question 13

What is Leishmanina spp?

Answer 13

• Kinetoplastid parasite (flagellated protozoa)
• Kinetoplast subcellular structure
• Flagellum
• Similar to trypanosomes

Question 14

What is leishmania transmitted by?

Answer 14

Sandflies - Phlebotomus spp

Question 15

What is the species of canine leishmaniasis in Europe?

Answer 15

Leishmania infantum

Question 16

What is the morphology on Leishmania spp? (stages)

Answer 16

Amastigote = mammalian stage, multiplies in cytoplasm of macrophages

Promastigote = insect stage, contains flagellum

Question 17

What is the life cycle of Leishmania?

Answer 17

1* Amastigotes taken up as sand fly feeds
2* In sand fly midgut the amastigotes transform into the promastigote stage
- Stage containing the flagellum
- Development temperature dependent
3* Infection of new host when sand fly feeds
- Pool feeders, promastigote migrates from the midgut down the proboscis
4* Promastigotes are internalized by macrophages and loose their flagellum
5* Promastigotes lose their flagellum and transform into the amastigote stage

Question 18

What are the clinical signs of canine leishmaniasis?

Answer 18

*Range from asymptomatic to severe
* Alopecia/Hair loss
* Emaciation
* Exfoliative dermatitis
* Eczema
* Lesions around the edges of ears
* Peri-orbital alopecia
* Sores around muco-cutaneous junctions are common
* Chronic phase of diseases - excessive nail growth

Question 19

How is canine leishmaniasis diagnosed?

Answer 19

*History of travel
*Clinical signs
*Blood tests/Serology
*PCR

Question 20

How is leishmaniasis treated?

Answer 20

• Treatment does not eliminate the parasite, clinical relapse can occur
• Allopurinol (lifelong)
• Miltefosine (caution in pregnancy and liver disease)
• Meglumine antimoniate (caution in kidney disease)
• Domperidone (prophylaxis)

Question 21

What vaccines are available for leishmaniasis?

Answer 21

• CaniLeish
• given to dogs from 6 months of age, as 3 injections 3 weeks apart
• Letifend
• given to dogs from 6 months of age as a single injection under the skin
• Booster every year
• Reduces symptoms rather than prevents infection

Question 22

What are the routes of transmission of leishmania in the UK?

Answer 22

• By Phlebotomus sandflies
• Infected blood transfusions
• Via wounds/dog bites