Vector-borne diseases and their implications for cats and dogs

VECTOR-borne infectious disease covers a wide range of parasitic, bacterial or viral diseases affecting dogs and cats, which are transmitted by the bite of haematophagous arthropods (mainly ticks and mosquitoes/sand flies). This article focuses on parasitic and bacterial diseases. Borreliosis (Lyme disease) and ehrlichiosis/ anaplasmosis are discussed, and both may affect pets that have not travelled outside the United Kingdom. There is also discussion of vector-borne diseases indigenous to the UK, uncommon in dogs and cats, but that may affect travelling pets or those in contact with travelling animals (for example babesiosis and leishmaniosis). Some diseases not seen in the UK may become more common with increased pet movement and if we see temperature increases due to climate change, with a subsequent change in vector habitats. Tick and mosquito prevention is clearly very important and this is summarised at the end of the article