Page 47 - VetCPD Jnl Volume 7, Issue 4

VETcpd - Parasitology Now claim your CPD Hours!
Take the online exam and turn your
ad hoc reading into ONE HOUR of DOCUMENTED CPD with a certificate
Take this exam using our Gold Subscription www.vetcpd.co.uk/subscribe
PURCHASE THIS
AS A CPD MODULE www.vetcpd.co.uk/modules
TRAVELLING PETS:
PARASITE PREVENTION AND DISEASE DETECTION
TUTORED BY
IAN WRIGHT
BVMS BSc MSc MRCVS
SubOscribers
on domestic pets and without routine preventative treatment, there is a high
risk of flea infestations establishing (Coles and Dryden 2014). Fleas are a cause of allergic dermatitis and vectors for a variety of infections including Bartonella henselae (cause of cat scratch disease), Rickettsia
felis (cause of spotted fever), Haemoplasma spp. (cause of feline infectious anaemia) and Dipylidium caninum tapeworms. Fleas may be brought into homes, mechanically by humans or by infested cats and dogs moving from household to household. No UK cat and dog is therefore free from the risk of exposure and given the zoonotic risk infestations pose and the risk of feline and canine health, adequate routine flea control is essential for all UK domestic cats and dogs.
The most important aspect of flea
control is to ensure adult fleas are killed
on the pet before they can initiate egg
production.Treatment of the environment
with insect growth regulators,
environmental insecticides, hot washing
al. 2013).The presence of resistance genes in a flea population may lead to a need for increased treatment frequency but this would appear to be comparatively rare compared with other reasons for the reproductive breakpoint being reached (Coles and Dryden 2014). It is also likely that wildlife and stray cat populations
of fleas, alongside the wide range of adulticides used, will slow or prevent resistance developing over time.Therefore, although the possibility of drug resistance as a cause of flea control breakdown needs to be monitored, it does not currently appear to be a significant factor in flea control breakdown.
of bedding to at least 50 degrees celcius
Environmental contamination with neonicotinoids has also been identified in the UK but the source of contamination is unknown.This area requires further research and if cat and dog flea products are identified as a source, then adulticides representing the least risk to the environment should be preferentially selected. Maintaining human and animal health, however, remains the first priority
and daily vacuuming is also important of the veterinary profession.
to reduce environmental larvae and Conclusions 8 HOURS CPD
£149 + VAT
eggs. Reducing pupal numbers in the 5-25 APRIL 2021
environment is difficult however, making It can be concluded from the clinical Aimed at vets
effective, rapid killing of adults essential. significance and zoonotic risk posed by and vet nurses
Adult fleas can lay eggs within 24 hours UK helminths that there are situations
so the adulticide chosen must kill fleas
where monthly deworming of pets is Increasing numbers of pets are travelling
at least within that time.They must also essential.A risk assessment should be on the pet travel scheme (PETS) and being
nly
of infected individuals alone.Therefore, recommendations for deworming must be based on assessing risk to the individual and acting accordingly. Despite other factors such as financial constraints and lack of belief in chemical treatments by some owners, best practice based on risk assessment and compliance should always be offered. In this way, owners can make an informed decision when protecting their pet’s health, their own health and the health of the wider public.The ubiquitous nature of flea risk and infestations however, makes routine preventative treatment in
all UK cats and dogs essential to limit zoonotic risk and maintain pet health.
References
For a full list of references please visit:
www.vetcpd.co.uk/references
be administered frequently enough to made for the need to treat monthly; one imported from abroad. This in combination
continue to prevent flea egg laying.The of three strategies can be employed to with the expanding distribution of parasites
time after application of the adulticide at control disease and zoonotic risk from and vectors across Europe is making it
which fleas survive long enough to lay helminth infections in cats and dogs. It increasingly likely that vets and nurses will
eggs is known as the “reproductive break is difficult in the UK to justify blanket encounter foreign parasites and be required
point”. If the reproductive break point is to give preventative advice. This course
monthly chemoprophylaxis for all cats considers exotic and emerging diseases, their reached, then flea control will fail. Even if and dogs, but equally difficult to justify diagnosis and treatment, and will consider
s of fleas may still take at least three months
to eliminate, even when environmental treatment is used (Dryden et al. 2000). Use of an effective adulticide used frequently enough to prevent egg laying year round will prevent infestations and subsequent pathogen and flea bite exposure.
Concerns have been raised regarding drug resistance and environmental contamination in relation to routine adulticide use. Despite numerous large scale studies into the efficacy of flea treatments, no published evidence of flea resistance to compounds contained in flea products in the field has emerged. Even where resistance genes are known to exist in laboratory strains of fleas, fipronil, selamectin and spinosad have all been shown to be highly efficacious at three weeks post application (Dryden et
principals of control and safe pet travel.
Online Tutored Course – book your place today at www.vetcpd.co.uk/courses or call us on 01225 445561
READ PREVIOUS VETCPD PARASITOLOGY ARTICLES
Available for download at: www.vetcpd.co.uk/modules
Prices only £20 + VAT
Leishmania Infantum:
Could it Establish in the UK? bit.ly/2W7gzhP
UK Lyme Disease:
What We Know and What We Don’t bit.ly/2A1GAqi
PLUS LOTS MORE!
egg laying is prevented, heavy infestation the risks posed by relying on diagnosis
VETcpd - Vol 7 Issue 4 - Page 43
GOLD
£129
+ VAT
MODULE
£20
+ VAT