Sian Mitchell

Babesia canis detected in dogs and associated ticks from Essex.

FOLLOWING the letter from Clive Swainsbury and others about a cluster of cases of babesiosis in dogs from Essex with no history of foreign travel ( VR , February 13, 2016, vol 178, p 172), a tick removed from one of the dogs was sent to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to confirm its identification and investigate the presence of Babesia . Based on morphology the tick was identified as an adult male Dermacentor reticulatus , a species that has been reported from a number of locations in western Wales and the south west and south east of England, including Essex (Jameson and Medlock 2010, Medlock and others 2011, …

Echinococcus and Taenia spp. from captive mammals in the United Kingdom

Taeniid tapeworms which include Echinococcus and Taenia spp. are obligatory parasites of mammals with pathogenicity usually related to the larval stages of the life cycle. Two species (or genotypes) of Echinococcus, E. granulosus sensu stricto and E. equinus, as well as several Taenia spp. are endemic in the UK. Here we report on the occurrence of larval cystic stages of Echinococcus and Taenia spp. in captive mammals in the UK. Using molecular techniques we have identified E. granulosus (G1 genotype) in a guenon monkey and a Philippine spotted deer; E. equinus in a zebra and a lemur; E. ortleppi in a Philippine spotted deer; E. multilocularis in a macaque monkey and Taenia polyacantha in jumping rats. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of E. multilocularis in a captive primate translocated to the UK. As far as we know these are the first reports of E. equinus in a primate (lemur) and in a zebra; as well as E. granulosus (G1 genotype) and E. ortleppi in a cervid translocated to the UK. These infections and implications of the potential establishment of exotic species of cestodes are discussed.

Haemonchosis in large ruminants in the UK.

Nematodes of the genus Haemonchus are haematophagous parasites of the abomasum, which worldwide cause one of the most important diseases of ruminants. Although haemonchosis is mainly a clinical problem in regions with warm or tropical climates there is evidence that these parasites have spread

Psoroptic mange in cattle confirmed in England

THERE have been 21 confirmed outbreaks of psoroptic mange in cattle in Wales since 2007 (Jones and others 2008), likely to have originated from cattle imported from Belgium (Mitchell 2010). An outbreak of psoroptic mange has now been confirmed on a farm in southern England that regularly purchases cattle for fattening from a market in south Wales. Psoroptic mange is a severe skin disease in cattle, caused by a mite indistinguishable from Psoroptes ovis (the cause of sheep scab), which has proved difficult to treat in the outbreaks seen in Wales. It …

Tongue worm (Linguatula species) in stray dogs imported into the UK

A NUMBER of cases of tongue worm, Linguatula serrata , in stray dogs imported into the UK have been brought to our attention recently. Infected dogs may show a mucopurulent nasal discharge, epistaxis and sneezing, but infection may also be asymptomatic. The adult parasite is an elongated tongue-shape with transverse striations and is found in the nasal cavities or sinuses of dogs, foxes and other canids. These animals are infected by the ingestion of L serrata nymphs in raw offal of infected intermediate hosts (sheep, goats and cattle, but also rabbits and horses). The eggs from the …

Anthelmintic resistance in sheep flocks in Wales.

SIR, – We would like briefly to report the main findings of a study into anthelmintic resistance in sheep flocks in Wales, conducted by ADAS Wales in 2005. This was not a randomised survey; the farms that participated responded to a general invitation from ADAS Wales. Pooled faecal samples were obtained from lambs on 150 farms from May to December 2005. The samples were submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) for an in vitro larval development test (LDT) for the presence of benzimidazole (BZ) or levamisole (LM) resistance. Sufficient trichostrongyle-type eggs were obtained from 122 farms. It was not possible to test for macro cyclic lactone (ML) resistance, as ML resistance cannot be assayed with an in vitro test and only a single pooled sample was collected. In addition, a questionnaire was used to obtain information from 181 farmers about anthelmintic treatment regimens and sources of advice on parasite control. As shown in Table 1, 82 per cent of the farms showed evidence of anthelmintic resistance to one or more classes of anthelmintic. The results indicate that resistant nematodes are likely to be present on a large number of sheep farms in Wales. In light of our findings we suggest that continued efforts should be made to educate farmers, farmers’ merchants and veterinary surgeons to ensure that anthelmintics are used wisely. These results have been highlighted to veterinary surgeons and farmers in meetings and articles in Wales in 2006. Our survey indicated that farmers highly valued veterinary surgeons and their newsletters for information on parasite control. Also, emphasis is needed on the importance of correct quarantine treatment to prevent importation of resistant parasites. Questionnaire results showed that the guidance from the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) committee was not being widely followed in Wales in 2005. In addition, research is needed into alternative methods of parasite control.

First evidence of resistance to macrocyclic lactones, in Psoroptes ovis sheep scab mites in the UK

Ovine psoroptic mange (sheep scab) is an infection of substantial economic and animal welfare concern in the UK. Its prevalence has increased rapidly over the last 20 years and management is dependent on a small number of acaricidal compounds, many of which are also used to control a range of other endoparasites and ectoparasites. Here, the effects of the macrocyclic lactone (ML) moxidectin was considered using in vitro assays against mites from four farm populations where persistent treatment failure had been reported: two in West Wales, one from the England/Wales border and one in Herefordshire. The data demonstrate resistance in mites from all four farms. This is the first quantitative evidence of ML resistance in Psoroptes mites in the UK. Given the similarities in their mode of action it is highly likely that cross-resistance across the range of this class of compound will be found. The development of resistance to moxidectin is of considerable concern given the already high prevalence of scab infection in some regions; major difficulties in scab management should be anticipated if ML resistance becomes widely established in the UK.

First report of deltamethrin tolerance in the cattle chewing louse Bovicola bovis in the UK

THE chewing louse Bovicola bovis is the most common and clinically important species of louse found in cattle in the UK (Craufurd-Benson 1941) and causes significant economic losses. Clinical signs of infection include pruritus and excoriation which may lead to alopecia, skin trauma and infection (Matthysse 1946), and hide damage such as spot and fleck lesions that cause losses of up to £20 million per annum in the UK (Coles and others 2003). Treatment is usually by the use of topical insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroid and macrocyclic lactone formulations. Recently, there have been concerns over the development of pyrethroid resistance in chewing lice (Ellse and others 2012, Levot 2012). Inadequate coverage of the body resulting from pour-on and spot-on formulations exposes lice distal to the zones of drug penetration to sublethal doses of insecticide, which potentially exacerbates selection for resistance (Johnson and others 1995, Ellse and others 2012). Facultative parthenogenesis may also allow populations of lice with alleles conferring resistance to increase rapidly in size and predominate within the overall louse population (Ellse and others 2012). To date, there has been no clear evidence of insecticide tolerance or resistance in the UK B. bovis populations. The present study was undertaken in response to reported treatment failures with pyrethroid insecticides. B. bovis were collected from …

Disease risks from raccoons and skunks

A SHORT communication has recently reported that raccoons imported as pets and illegal imports into Norway have shown evidence of infection with Baylisascaris procyonis (Davidson and others 2013). B procyonis is an ascarid nematode commonly found in wild raccoons in North America and other areas of the world where these animals have been introduced. This parasite, like other ascarids, produces large numbers of eggs that are very resistant in the environment. It is considered the most common cause of clinical larva migrans in wild and domestic animals and birds in North America. Infection in people is rare and mainly associated with neurological or ocular disease which can be severe and fatal, particularly in young children. …