Written question asked by Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 30 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 July 2008. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Leishmaniasis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) companion animals and (b) wild animals have been diagnosed with leishmaniasis in each of the last 10 years.

Answer: Leishmaniasis is not a notifiable disease, so no definitive data is available for the total number of diagnoses made in companion or wild animals. However, in order to assess the implications of certain exotic diseases, DEFRA set up a voluntary exotic diseases surveillance scheme for dogs and cats across Great Britain, in consultation with the BVA (British Veterinary Association) and BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association). This scheme is known as the Dog and Cat Travel and Risk Information scheme (DACTARI) and was launched in March 2003. Between 1 January 2003 and 30 September 2006, 19 confirmed and a further five suspected cases of Leishmaniasis in dogs were reported to DACTARI. Two of the confirmed cases were identified by veterinary surgeons in dogs living in Scotland; the remainder were from dogs living in England.10 suspected cases of Leishmaniasis were reported to DACTARI in 2003, eight in 2004, five during 2005 (including one dog that was also diagnosed with Babesiosis), and one case was reported up to 30 September 2006. There were no reports for cats. Currently, there is no data available after September 2006. DEFRA does not undertake targeted surveillance for Leishmaniasis in wildlife, and no cases have been identified via the wildlife scanning surveillance system to date.

Secondary information