3 May 2017
Jenny Helm, senior veterinary clinician at University of Glasgow, discusses the recent tick media attention and the stats vets should be aware of.
Jenny Helm
Job Title
Ticks have never seen so much attention in the veterinary and consumer media. But what is behind the media noise and how should vets be reacting?
There is a drive, rightly so, to increase awareness of tick-borne diseases (TBD) due to their importance in global “one health”. But specifically in the UK, increasing reported cases of tick borne disease have driven the media agenda.
Within the profession, reports of expansion of the distribution of ticks already endogenous to the UK have also been frequent.
As a result, more than ever before veterinary professionals are expected to remind pet owners of the importance of parasite prevention, particularly tick prophylaxis, to reduce the threat of TBD.
The content below collates the most relevant studies and information to help vets understand the true scale of risk and effectively discuss preventative treatment options with their clients.
The profession is seeing an expansion of the distribution of ticks already endogenous to the UK, with a predominant emphasis on the west and south coasts of England. This geographical expansion of tick species and subsequent TBD is likely to be multifactorial and factors causing this may include:
Some species of tick such as Ixodes ricinus appear to be increasing1, but also a number of other tick species are appearing in the UK. For example the tick Dermacentor reticulatus, an important vector of canine babesiosis in Europe and Rhipicephalus sanguineus; the vector for Hepatozoon spp; Erhlichia spp. and some species of Babesia.
Specifically Public Health England has reported two cases of infestations with this brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, in residential properties in the UK (Leicestershire and Essex). In these cases the ticks were originally thought to have been introduced into households by dogs imported from Mediterranean Europe. However, infestation was able to become established and ticks were able to overwinter in both cases.2
Of recent interest three cases of canine babesiosis in dogs with no travel history have been reported in Essex, England3. The tick host (Dermacentor) was found in the surrounding area (possibly also recovered from two of the affected dogs).
Prior to this outbreak, Dermacentor ticks were also found in West Wales and Devon4 and a fatal case of Babesiosis was reported in an untraveled dog from Kent.iv
The reasons for the geographical spread of tick species and subsequent TBD is likely to be multifactorial and factors that may cause this are listed above.
“In Scotland I get the impression that owners are aware of the risk of the presence of ticks in their pets. Yet there is much less knowledge about TBD and the associated risks. With a 2012 case of Ehrlichia canis infection diagnosed by my internal medicine colleagues in an 18-month-old dog with no history of travel outside of the UK. And more recently, a confirmed case of canine borreliosis reported in the Glasgow area, the risk to dogs is certainly real.”
Given the recent reports of emerging threats and the existing endemic TBD risk it is more important than ever to recommend adequate tick prophylaxis.
Previously it was thought that ticks needed to attach for more than 48 hours to transmit diseases however reports now suggest that this might not be the case5. Ticks carrying Ehrlichia canis have been shown to infect dogs in as little as 3 hours after attachment6. The author would recommend that, where feasible, ticks are removed (ideally using a specific removal device) as soon as they are observed (and if possible within 24 hours).
However, it is ideal to recommend precautions to avoid the tick from biting the animal in the first instance. During feeding, ticks (and/or other ectoparasites such as fleas) inject a small amount of saliva into the skin and pets may become sensitised or allergic to this, resulting in stress and possibly other dermatological conditions. Using a product which repels ticks can also help towards halting the transmission and spread of harmful diseases such as Lyme disease and Babesiosis.
Historically vets and the public have been educated about a specific tick season. Typically tick numbers are expected to be increased in the UK between March and November when favourable climatic and environmental factors support tick survival and biting activity. Although most infestations are highest in spring, early summer then again in autumn, tick infestation is in fact possible all year round during milder weather (>3.5°C). Preventative treatments which offer up to 8 months efficacy against flea and tick bites are now available, providing the longest level of protection for dogs and cats.
Although not attracting the same media attention as tick-borne diseases, fleas are also capable of transmitting disease to animals and humans. When promoting effective flea control it is of vital importance to consider the pet (or all of the pets in a multi-animal household) and the environment.
Given that the optimal temperatures for completion of the flea lifecycle are around 18 to 25°C, our modern centrally heated homes support this perfectly throughout the year. This means flea infestation is now a year round problem and the efficacy duration of preventative treatment should be considered to prevent household infestation.
L.GB.MKT.04.2017.17106
