What do you know about the main parasite species that put your pets’ health at risk during travel?

We all love bringing our furry friends with us when we travel, but this growing trend can have unexpected consequences.

If a pet travels to an area where parasites other than domestic ones are present, they run the risk of contracting rare diseases for which we are not prepared and could bring these parasites back home.

For example, German researchers found that 12.2 percent of dogs from Mediterranean countries or traveling with their owners tested positive for leishmaniasis, a serious disease transmitted by sandflies that should not exist in Germany.

In the UK, 92.3% of all ticks identified by the Tick Surveillance Scheme came from dogs that had recently travelled! 44.1% were brown dog ticks, which can transmit various diseases to our four-legged friends, including babesiosis.

Laura Kramer, vector-borne disease expert:

“OWNERS who travel with their dogs or cats end up in areas endemic for certain diseases that may not be present at home.”

Many parasites can infest your pet and spread diseases such as babesiosis and heartworm. Find out why they spread and what you can do to protect your dog or cat from parasites.

Many diseases are transmitted directly from one person to another, such as colds and flu. Others, however, need a means of transport to reach their victim, be it human or our pets. This is the case of parasitic diseases.

There are hundreds of different parasites, but some of the most common are:

These species vary quite a bit in their basic structure: for example, mosquitoes are insects, ticks are arachnids (same class as spiders). Their way of hunting also varies: mosquitoes and sandflies fly to reach their target, fleas jump and ticks attach themselves to host animals as they pass by.

But they all have one thing in common: they act as disease vectors. In other words, they transmit infections when they feed on the blood of the host animal.

For more information on this extremely important concept, watch our informative video “What is a Vector” by clicking on the link below.

Why does good weather expose our pets to fleas for a longer period of time?

Changing weather and seasons affect both the extent of these pests and the time of year they are active.

The parasites are generally very small and can only travel short distances. But they can travel hundreds of kilometers in animal fur or people’s luggage.

Until recently, these species faced a natural barrier: the warm, humid climate they need to thrive could only be found in certain parts of Europe and at certain times of the year.

But now temperatures are rising across Europe. The so-called “pest season” has therefore expanded over the course of the year and more and more species are able to survive in areas where it was previously too cold.

What does this mean for pets?

For dogs and cats, there are some clear consequences to consider:

• It threatens all year round. We’re no longer dealing with a single season of parasites: common threats to pets like dog and cat fleas are now a year-round problem.
• Geographical distribution. Many parasites that could only be found in southern Europe, or even further afield, are now also found in more northern countries such as the Netherlands, Germany or the United Kingdom.
• Introduction of exotic species. A parasite once considered exotic, like the tiger mosquito, today also lives in the northern areas of Europe.

This means that parasites have more time to spread diseases and every country in Europe will have to deal with new species carrying diseases never seen before.

Many domestic animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, which can cause organ failure in our pets, are now endemic in some areas of Europe. Others, like babesiosis, spread quickly.

Safety for pets, wherever they are

If you want to travel with your pet, ask your veterinarian if the furry friend is well protected from parasites and diseases at the destination. Our free newsletter can keep you updated on the spread of parasites and provide you with the best scientific information to protect your pets from parasites, at home or on the go.

1. Menn, B., Lorentz, S., & Naucke, T. J. (2010). Dogs imported and traveling as carriers of canine vector-borne pathogens in Germany. Parasites and vectors3(1), 1-7.

2. Hansford, K. M., Pietzsch, M. E., Cull, B., Gillingham, E. L., & Medlock, J. M. (2018). Potential risk posed by importation of ticks into the UK on animals: Tick Surveillance Scheme records. Veterinary register, 182(4), 107-107.