Jet set pets: examining the zoonosis risk in animal import and travel across the European Union

Fooks, Anthony R; Johnson, Nicholas

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. Two forms are recognized, ie, cutaneous leishmaniasis causing skin lesions and the more serious visceral disease involving multiple organs. Natural transmission is through the bite of phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the genera Phlebotomus in the Old World. 14 Distribution of leishmaniasis is limited by the presence of the vector. In Europe, the vector is indigenous to those countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The major mammalian reservoir is the domestic dog. Estimates of autochthonous human cases in Europe are approximately 700 a year. 15 Numbers of cases in Turkey are higher, with over 3,000 annually. Nonendemic countries in Europe do encounter cases of canine leishmaniasis as a result of pet movements. 16 In the absence of border restrictions, it is difficult to establish the true extent of regional movement of animals either for trade or through holiday travel. Monitoring of dogs and cats entering the UK through its pet travel scheme indicated that almost 100,000 animals entered the country annually (Table 1) . A similar situation is likely to exist for most EU member states. In addition to this, there is the problem of illegal movement of animals either by organized groups for commercial purposes or inadvertent contraventions of legal requirements by holidaymakers through importation of their animals. Quantification of this is by its very nature difficult, but detection of noncompliance with legislation or deliberately smuggled animals is a regular occurrence, 17 and the incidence of disease often highlights this activity.