A Three-Year Biocrime Sanitary Surveillance on Illegally Imported Companion Animals

Abstract

The illegal trade of companion animals in the European Union poses several legal, ethical and health issues to the entire community. In the framework of the Biocrime Interreg project between Italy and Austria, we surveyed puppies and kittens confiscated at the borders to identify the most frequent pathogens associated with (i) the risk of spread within the shelter, (ii) the development of fatal disease and (iii) the zoonotic potential. From January 2018 to December 2020, we examined a total of 613 puppies and 62 kittens coming from 44 requisitions. Feces, skin specimens and blood sera from confiscated animals were tested to verify the presence of major infections and to assess the rabies post-vaccination immunity. Out of the total of individuals under investigation, necropsies and laboratory investigations were also performed on 79 puppies and three kittens that had died during the observation period. Results indicated a high prevalence of Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Giardia spp. infections, CPV as the most likely cause of fatal gastroenteritis in puppies and Salmonella and Microsporum canis as major zoonotic pathogens. Conversely, both extended spectrum beta lactamases Escherichia coli and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius strains as rare findings. Results highlighted that illegal animal trade could expose the human population to potential zoonotic risk and naïve animal population to potentially disrupting epidemic waves, both of these issues being largely underestimated when buying companion animals.

Molecular Investigation of Recent Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) in Italy Revealed Distinct Clustering

“…As a matter of fact, the CPV-2 strains composing this group were identified in puppies suspected to be illegally imported into Italy (data not shown). The introduction of CPV-2-positive puppies in Northeast Italy between 2017 and 2020 was documented by an intense interregional surveillance program between Italy and Austria on the illegal movement of pet animals, as Northeast Italy represents an easy point of entry for Eastern European countries [ 32 ]. Therefore, the hypothesis on the introduction of genetically different CPV-2 strains into Italy from foreign countries cannot be ruled out.…”

“…Therefore, no updated information is available regarding the circulation of CPV-2 variants and their genetic characteristics in Northeast Italy from 2015 onwards. This area of Italy is of particular interest as a point of entry of pet animals from Eastern European countries, via legal or illegal movements [ 32 , 33 ], demonstrated by recent studies on the characterization of pathogens of dogs including canine parvoviruses from East Europe and Far East countries [ 32 , 33 ]. The aim of the present study was to characterize the VP2 of CPV-2 strains identified through the diagnostic activity detected between 2013 and 2019 in Northeast Italy, providing updated information on the circulation and distribution patterns of CPV-2 variants.…”

Illegal trade of companion animals into the European Union: a public health concern

“…The free movement of people and their pets into the European Union is a risk factor for the translocation of diseases and their hosts. Added to this is the serious and current problem of the illegal trade associated with companion animals, which poses several sanitary, ethical and legal issues [3,4].Objectives: In this study, the aim was to highlight the potential zoonotic risks associated to the illegal trade of companion animals in Europe. Methods: The search of relevant articles was performed on Pubmed databases between February and March 2022, using the following keywords "companion animals", "illegal trade" and "zoonoses".…”

“…Results: The results showed that the dog is the most companion animal associated with the illegal animal trade. Controlled dogs showed a high prevalence of Giardia spp, Microsporum canis and Salmonella as major zoonotic pathogens [3]. Other zoonotic diseases like rabies, toxoplasmoses, echinococcosis and leishmania were also described [1].…”

“…However, their massive and inappropriate use for a long time has greatly contributed to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance through the direct contact with animals, the food chain or contaminated environments. With this increased concern about the impact of livestock on the burden of antimicrobial resistance worldwide, several measures have been implemented under a One Health approach [1][2][3]. Objectives: The aim of this work was to highlight the impact of antibiotic resistance in livestock production and its mitigation strategies.…”