1. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Non- Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Regulation (EC No 998/2003) Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) An update, May 2009

2. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org PETS or Pests “Balancing pet travel and disease control” A European Veterinary Week Seminar held at BSAVA Congress, Birmingham, 3 rd April 2009 “Prevention is better than cure” “Biosecurity at the borders”

3. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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

4. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Considerations  What is the relative risk?  Evidence based decision making  Controls that are proportionate to the risk

5. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Transmissible Diseases  Rabies  Echinococcus multilocularis  Vector borne diseases

6. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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

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19. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Biosecurity at the border The 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".

20. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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 dog 2.Breed 3.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”

21. Number of dogs entering UK under PETs scheme 2000-2008 Total = 505,337 dogs since 2000 DEFRA year Number of dogs

22. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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.

23. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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)

24. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Human Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE) Fatal outcome in >95% untreated cases within 10 years of diagnosis 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

25. IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE -Main hosts red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and meadow voles: Microtus arvalis Arvicola terrestris Fox prevalence rates 1- 50 % Rodent prevalence rate <1 - 5% Upland agricultural endemic areas

26. Evidence of E. multilocularis in the red fox in Europe Summary of references pre-1990 after: Romig, 2001

27. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Evidence in 2000 2006* Evidence of E. multilocularis in the red fox in Europe *Afssa, France

28. 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

29. World distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis Japan-an example of introduction to an island Hokkaido, Japan

30. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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 infected Extermination of fox and dog populations in 1955 – no re-introduction on Rueben Island First 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?

31. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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)

32. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) virus Main vector Ixodes ricinus Rickettsia conorii (Mediterranean Spotted Fever) Main vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus Francisella tularensis ( Tularemia) Variety of vectors Zoonotic implications

33. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Zoonotic implications Leishmaniosis Laboratory reported human cases in the UK 2000 20012002200320042005 10 25 24 38 50 58 Source: Health Protection Agency

34. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Conclusions  What is the relative risk?  Evidence based decision making  Controls that are proportionate to the risk Prevention is better than cure!!

35. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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 than cure!!

36. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org 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 media Prevention is better than cure!!

37. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Conclusions - Ticks 1.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 states Prevention is better than cure!!

38. UEVP is a section of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe Union of European Veterinary Practitioners www.uevp.org info@uevp.org Acknowledgments Professor William Ollier Department of Immunogenetics, Manchester University Professor Phil Craig Cestode Zoonoses Research Group, Salford University Dr Susan Shaw Acarus Unit, Bristol University Dr Dilys Morgan Head of Emerging & Zoonotic Infections, Health Protection Agency Nigel Gibbens Chief Veterinary Officer, Defra