title: Canine babesiosis and tick activity monitored using companion animal electronic health records in the UK.
abstract: Recent publications highlighting autochthonous Babesia canis infection in dogs from Essex that have not travelled outside the UK are a powerful reminder of the potential for pathogen emergence in new populations. Here the authors use electronic health data collected from two diagnostic laboratories and a network of 392 veterinary premises to describe canine Babesia cases and levels of Babesia concern from January 2015 to March 2016, and the activity of ticks during December 2015-March 2016. In most areas of the UK, Babesia diagnosis in this population was rare and sporadic. In addition, there was a clear focus of Babesia cases in the affected area in Essex. Until February 2016, analysis of health records indicated only sporadic interest in Babesia largely in animals coming from overseas. Following media coverage in March 2016, there was a spike in owner concern that was geographically dispersed beyond the at-risk area. Tick activity (identified as ticks being removed from animals in veterinary consultations) was consistent but low during the period preceding the infections (<5 ticks/10,000 consultations), but increased in March. This highlights the use of electronic health data to describe rapidly evolving risk and concern that follows the emergence of a pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Vizcaíno
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wardeh
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heayns
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: J S P
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tulloch
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McGinley
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Infection and Global Health University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, S. Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Babesiosis; Dogs; Tickborne diseases; Ticks