New Advances in Understanding of Parasite Risk Showcased at CVBD World Forum

Monheim, Germany, July 28, 2010 (ots/PRNewswire) - Fascinating studies
giving new insights into the spread of leishmaniosis in the UK and
France, the appearance of new CVBDs in Germany, the state of
heartworm infection in Korea and the neurological impact on humans
of long-term bartonella infection from the USA are among the papers
now available for download from http://www.cvbd.org, as the
proceedings of the 5th Annual Canine Vector Borne Disease (CVBD)
World Forum are made available online today.

The recent changes in travel restrictions between the UK and
continental Europe coupled with increases in average temperatures in
the UK have potentially dramatically lowered the barriers to new
CVBDs entering the UK. The risk of one of these diseases,
leishmaniosis, has been studied by the team led by Dr Susan Shaw,
University of Bristol, UK, who presented their findings at the CVBD
meeting in New York. Dr Shaw reported on an in-depth study of 257
dogs diagnosed in the UK with confirmed leishmaniosis between 2005
and 2007. However, her laboratory has dealt with over 900 cases since
2000 when the PETS travel scheme was initiated. This is a significant
increase from previous studies and a number which they believe to be
underestimated based on lack of awareness of the symptomatology in
clinical cases and the number of sub-clinically infected dogs
entering the UK. According to Dr Shaw, "This increased prevalence
raises the very real prospect of leishmaniosis becoming established
in the UK if the sand fly vector appears in this country. Indeed,
there is a worrying possibility that there is already transmission
occurring in the UK, as a number of dogs in our study had no history
of travel outside the UK at all." More information on Dr Shaw's study
can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.03.025.

Further evidence of the risk posed by the movement of dogs within
Europe was presented by Dr Torsten Naucke. Dr Naucke's study looked
at more than 4,500 dogs imported into Germany, and found that nearly
one in four (23.4%) were infected with babesiosis, and more than one
in ten were infected with leishmaniosis (12.2%) and ehrlichiosis
(10.1%). According to Dr Naucke, "Based on these findings the
importation of dogs from endemic regions to Germany, as well as
travelling with dogs to these regions carries a significant risk of
acquiring an infection. We would recommend that pet owners seek the
advice of their veterinarians prior to importing a dog from an
endemic area or travel to such areas." For more information on Dr
Naucke's finding, visit
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2857866/?tool=pubmed

Dr Jean-Pierre Dedet shared his group's work on developing the
first risk map for canine leishmaniosis in France. Having studied
more than 40 years of records, the group was able to establish the
major areas of endemicity in France. The largest cluster was found in
the southern slopes of the Cevennes Mountains and two regions of the
Provence and Maritime Alps; a small reduced cluster was found in the
North West of France around Tours. Based on the environment in which
these clusters were found, the team led by Dr Dedet has been able,
for the first time, to develop a model showing which areas of France
are most at risk of leishmaniosis, allowing veterinarians and pet
owners to better understand the risks faced by dogs, and to take
appropriate preventative measures. For more information on the study
and risk map, go to
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2857865/?tool=pubmed

Away from Europe, Professor SungShik Shin of Chonnam National
University, Korea, led a study looking at the levels of CVBDs in both
rural and urban dogs in Korea, an area that has been little studied
in the past. This study looked at hunting dogs in the countryside,
and found that more than two in five dogs (40.6%) tested positive for
a CVBD. The most common CVBD among these dogs was heartworm
(Dirofilaria immitis), with a remarkable 22.3% of working dogs
testing positive. The other three CVBDs tested for were also notably
common, with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia
burgdorferi infection levels of 18.8%, 6.1% and 2.2% respectively.
When they looked at urban dogs, the picture was markedly different,
with only cases of heartworm being found; however the levels of
heartworm were nearly as high in this population as in the rural
population at around one in seven dogs (14.6%).

Finally, Dr Edward Breitschwerdt of North Carolina State
University, USA, presented a case of bartonella infection in a father
and daughter from the USA. This case involved a veterinarian who
developed a number of chronic symptoms over a period of years,
including arthralgia, progressive weight loss, muscle weakness and
lack of coordination. His daughter had recently also developed
headaches, muscle pain and insomnia. On investigation, the father and
daughter were found to be infected with one species and one
sub-species of bartonella which, after extended treatment were
eventually eliminated, leading to complete remission of symptoms.
"These two cases demonstrate the very real threat posed to humans by
CVBDs. It's all too easy to forget that there are many of these
diseases that, while not common in humans, can cause significant
suffering and even death. It's in part because of this risk to humans
that I would encourage all veterinarians to ensure they are educated
on the symptoms of CVBDs in dogs, as it is only by protecting dogs
that we can protect ourselves," said Dr Breitschwerdt.

The proceedings include all the presentations given at the 5th
CVBD World Forum in New York, sponsored Bayer Animal Health, where
leading experts in CVBDs from around the world met to share the
latest research on these important diseases. Sarah Weston of Bayer
Animal Health spoke of the CVBD World Forum, "The CVBD World Forum is
another example of Bayer Animal Health delivering on our commitment
to improving the understanding and treatment of CVBDs. As we have
seen at this meeting, this is an area where knowledge is still
rapidly expanding, and we are proud to play our part in helping to
bring people together to share information and develop new approaches
to the study and prevention of CVBDs".

About CVBDs

For more information about CVBDs, visit http://www.CVBD.org

About Bayer HealthCare

Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's
leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products
industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines
the global activities of the Animal Health, Bayer Schering Pharma,
Consumer Care and Medical Care divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is
to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and
animal health worldwide. Find more information at
http://www.bayerhealthcare.com.

With a turnover of EUR977 million (2009) Bayer HealthCare's
Animal Health Division is one of the world's leading manufacturers of
veterinary drugs. The division manufactures and markets more than 100
different veterinary drugs and care products for livestock and
companion animals.

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could lead to material differences between the actual future results,
financial situation, development or performance of the company and
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Contact:
Kathrin Stat
+49(0)2173-38-4019
kathrin.statz@bayerhealthcare.com

ots Originaltext: Bayer HealthCare
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Contact:
CONTACT: Contact: Kathrin Stat,
+49(0)2173-38-4019,kathrin.statz@bayerhealthcare.com