UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners [email protected] Non- Commercial Movement

UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe

Union of EuropeanVeterinary Practitioners

www.uevp.org • [email protected]

Non- Commercial Movement of

Pet Animals Regulation (EC No 998/2003)

Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

An update, May 2009




PETS or Pests

“Balancing pet travel and disease control”

A European Veterinary Week Seminar held at BSAVA Congress, Birmingham, 3rd April 2009

“Prevention is better than cure”“Biosecurity at the borders”




Objectives

To present the science behind the arguments to continue with certain protective measures

To have an informed debate with all interested parties to see if a consensus can be reached




Considerations

What is the relative risk?

Evidence based decision making

Controls that are proportionate to the risk




Transmissible Diseases

Rabies

Echinococcus multilocularis

Vector borne diseases




Rabies

Defra and EFSA Rabies Risk Assessments in 2007

Both agreed about efficacy and importance of vaccination and identification in preventing spread of disease

Differences in emphasis:

Defra – serology testing provides confidence that vaccination has been successful and has been good compliance with pet movement rules

EFSA – suggested that a second vaccination can provide assurance that sufficient immunity has been achieved

Concern – Some EU countries the risk of rabies is non-negligible by EFSA’s definition

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008




Biosecurity at the borderThe Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carried out a mission in Greece on 24-27 November 2008 with the objective to evaluate a proposed Border Inspection Post (BIP) against the relevant requirements of EU legislation (with a view to its listing in Commission Decision 2001/881/EC). Deficiencies were seen in staffing, supervision and operation of the proposed BIP of Astakos.

It was noted that the staff "has received insufficient instructions or guidance on how to implement procedures, nor have they received sufficient training; no procedures have been put in place in order to agree with Customs the entry of consignments of veterinary interest to the Free Zone; there is little formal co-operation with Customs; there is no system in place at central level for the ongoing supervision by the Central Competent Authority of the correct application of procedures at BIP's".




Is rabies vaccination reliable enough?Studied rabies vaccination data set of 10,483 dogs tested by VLA in 2002

Factors influencing vaccination failure:1.Age and size of the dog2.Breed3.Vaccine manufacturer“It would be naive to believe that a “one size fits all” model could be applied to the canine immune system.Rabies vaccination alone, without some measure of judging the response could misclassify the immune status of a significant proportion of dogs”

Number of dogs entering UK under PETs scheme 2000-2008

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Total = 505,337 dogs since 2000

DEFRAyear

Num

ber

of d

ogs




Tackling rabies: collaboration between professions Bernard Vallatt – World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

Vaccination of dogs and control of stray dog populations are more efficient and cost effective control measures than treating people after they have been bitten.

With only10% of financial resources used worldwide to treat people after dog bite, veterinary services would be able to eradicate rabies in animals.

Good governance of veterinary services, better diagnostic capacity, well structured vaccination programmes are key actions to take.

Raising public awareness of rabies and collaboration with other professions should be emphasised.




Echinococcus multilocularis

Veterinary Risk Assessment by EFSA Jan 2007:

“The risk of dogs and cats becoming infected with Echinococcus multilocularis as final hosts in endemic areas is greater than negligible”

“The abandoning of additional measures will increase the risk of introducing the parasite into an area considered free of Echinococcus multilocularis” (5 countries)




Human Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE)Fatal outcome in >95% untreated cases within 10 years ofdiagnosis

5 – 15 years incubation period

>98% primary lesions in liver – necrosis

Metastases to lungs and brain

Liver resection is the main treatment

Albendazole drug – parasitostatic only

IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE

-Main hosts red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

and meadow voles: Microtus arvalisArvicola terrestris

Fox prevalence rates 1- 50 %

Rodent prevalence rate <1 - 5%

Upland agricultural endemic areas

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‹Datum/Uhrzeit› ‹Fußzeile› ‹Nr.›

Evidence of E. multilocularis in the red fox in Europe

Summary of references pre-1990

after: Romig, 2001

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Evidence in 2000

2006*

Evidence of E. multilocularis in the red fox in Europe

*Afssa, France

Occurrence of human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in Europe

Origin of 532 AE patients

(autochthonous cases only; diagnoses ascertained 1982 to 2000; dots represent the residence of 1-5 patients)

© European Echinococcosis Registry

1982-2000

World distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis

Japan-an example of introduction to an island

Hokkaido,Japan




Spread of Echinococcus multilocularis in Northern Japan 1924 -

1924-26 - red foxes (n=24) introduced to Reuben Island (83 sq km) from Russia.1935 – first human AE cases on Rueben, total 129 cases by 1967 (1% humans infected)19% of foxes and 1.6% dogs infectedExtermination of fox and dog populations in 1955 – no re-introduction on Rueben IslandFirst human AE cases on main north island – Hokkaido (78,500 sq km) from 1965 (currently >400 cases)Spread to main island – Honshu (230,500 sq km)?Introduce a pet travel (movement) scheme for Honshu?




Vector borne diseases

EFSA: Ticks Risk Assessment, 2007

Concluded insufficient evidence to inform full risk assessment (UK, Ireland, Malta)

4 diseases considered high significance: Babesiosis (Babesia canis, gibsoni) Dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis) Leishmania (L. infantum, donovani) Ehrlichiosis (Ehlichia canis, E chaffensis, E ewingii)




Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) virusMain vector Ixodes ricinus

Rickettsia conorii (Mediterranean Spotted Fever)Main vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)Variety of vectors

Zoonotic implications




Zoonotic implications

Leishmaniosis

Laboratory reported human cases in the UK

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 10 25 24 38 50 58

Source: Health Protection Agency




Conclusions

What is the relative risk?

Evidence based decision making

Controls that are proportionate to the risk

Prevention is

better t

han cure!!




Conclusions - Rabies

1. Maintain post vaccinal rabies antibody titre testing

2. Reduce waiting time following adequate antibody titration from 6 months to 3 months

3. Improve border controls with regard to identification, vaccination status and welfare of the travelling pet

Prevention is

better t

han cure!!




Conclusions - Echinococcus

1. Serious public health risk – scientific evidence is there

2. Existing treatment protocols with praziquantel are very effective. Increase interval before travelling to between 24 hours and 7 days

3. Make it a notifiable disease

4. Education through vet practices and the mediaPreventio

n is bette

r than cure

!!




Conclusions - Ticks1. Acaricide and insecticide repellent application

before travelling

2. Vet practices to set up travel clinics to advise on disease prevention and welfare

3. Increased surveillance and data gathering in all member states

4. Facilitate the availability of licensed medicines between member statesPre

ventio

n is b

ette

r than

cure

!!




AcknowledgmentsProfessor William OllierDepartment of Immunogenetics, Manchester University

Professor Phil Craig Cestode Zoonoses Research Group, Salford University

Dr Susan ShawAcarus Unit, Bristol University

Dr Dilys MorganHead of Emerging & Zoonotic Infections, Health Protection Agency

Nigel GibbensChief Veterinary Officer, Defra

Documents

UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners [email protected] Non- Commercial Movement