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Veterinary advice on movement of animals between
the UK and Europe
Rabies serology and tick treatments will no longer be a legal requirement for animals travelling to or returning to the UK from the 1st January 2012. It is generally accepted that no longer requiring these important controls before animals travel to the UK from continental Europe and beyond will increase the risks of rabies and tick borne diseases in the UK. Vets in the UK will need to adapt to the new situation and continue to advise clients on preventative care for their pets when travelling. As has always been the case, travel advice for pets should go beyond the minimum legal requirement for travel required by the EU.
The likely retention of tapeworm controls is to be welcomed and advice on how to obtain the necessary treatment may be required. The risks to travelling pets from exotic diseases spread by ticks should not be ignored however. Owners should be advised to regularly monitor for ticks, and maintain high levels of preventative treatments to control risks from ticks during the length of their stay overseas. In certain areas of Southern Europe there is also a substantial risk of Leishmaniasis, which is spread by sandflies. Products are available to reduce the risk of sandfly bites, and care to keep pets indoors at dusk and dawn when the vector is particularly active is also advisable. Preventative treatment for heartworm may also be required.
With regard to protection against rabies virus the EU system of treating all member states and the current countries on the travel list the same is difficult to justify scientifically. While the risk of rabies in much of Western Europe is relatively low there are a substantial number of countries in the EU and on the EU list where there is still a problem with rabies in a wildlife reservoir (e.g., Italy, Poland, Baltic states, Russia, USA and many others). Up to date information on countries that are high risk for rabies can be obtained from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website. In such areas, and indeed even in other areas when canine rabies sporadically occurs (e.g., France 2011), there remains a genuine risk of exposure to rabies. Rabies has been documented in vaccinated dogs and therefore if an owner is taking a dog or cat to an area where rabies exposure is possible a 5% risk that it has failed to respond to rabies vaccination puts both the pet and the family at risk. Multiple doses of rabies vaccine, rabies serology, and if necessary rabies boosting, shortly before travel to such high risk rabies areas is highly advisable.
One further consequence of DEFRA allowing animals to enter the UK from rabies endemic areas without a blood test (against OIE advice) is that rabies now becomes an important differential diagnosis in any animal that has travelled overseas, particularlywhere travel has occurred to an area with a wildlife reservoir of rabies. Unfortunately the boundaries of any such area may change, and this may be something that is difficult for the average practitioner to monitor. The incubation period for rabies is variable but typically 3-9 weeks. Clinical signs include nervousness, pyrexia, voice alteration, jaw weakness and a tendency to bite if anything is placed near the mouth. Rabiescan be difficult to rule out on clinical grounds alone. Any dog exhibiting central nervous system signs should be considered a suspect rabies case if it has visited a rabies endemic area in the last 6 months. It is essential that AHVLA are contacted in such cases and the animal isolated until rabies is ruled out. In the event that the animal has bitten or scratched someone it will be necessary (according to DEFRA's current rabies control plan) for the dog to be humanely destroyed so that its rabies status can be confirmed. It is also necessary for veterinary practices to protect their staff from exposure to zoonotic infections. Practices that treat pets that have travelled overseas should add rabies to their list of possible zoonotic risks and take precautions accordingly. Current HPA advice (this may be under review) is that any individual in regular contact with animals from overseas should be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccination of veterinary and nursing staff, and confirmation that protective immunity exists, should therefore be considered.
Key Bullet Points for UK Veterinary Practices
- Although Pet Travel only requires vaccination from January 2012 practices should consider what the actual risks of rabies are to an animal travelling overseas. If a country with a wildlife reservoir for rabies, or with recent rabies cases is being visited, multiple vaccinations and/or a blood test to confirm immunity are advisable to protect both the animal and the family from the risk of rabies.
- From 2012 rabies will be a differential diagnosis in animals with neurological signs that have travelled overseas, particularly if this has been to a rabies endemic area (at present this would include Eastern Europe, Northern Italy, USA and many others). If a practice suspects rabies AHVLA should be contacted immediately. Suspect cases must be isolated immediately until rabies is ruled out, according to DEFRA's current plans if a suspect case bites or scratches someone the animal will be destroyed and sent to AHVLA for diagnostic testing.
- If a practice expects to see animals that have visited countries with an endemic rabies problem then a full rabies risk assessment and subject to any update of advice from the HPA, precautionary vaccination of staff that handle animals is indicated. If an animal that has visited a country with endemic rabies bites or scratches a member of staff full post exposure prophylaxis should be started without delay in both practice staff and other human and animal contacts.
- Risks to the travelling pet of tick borne diseases should be considered and active preventative measures are essential throughout the period of travel. • Tapeworm treatment should be regarded as essential whether or not this is agreed by the EU.
- Preventative treatment for Heartworm is needed if visiting some areas.
- Advice to reduce the risks of sandfly bites and Leishmaniasis are needed for visits to Southern Europe in particular.
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