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

Studies Reveal Impact and Spread of CVBDs Worldwide

MONHEIM, Germany, July 28, 2010 - 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
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 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
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
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 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 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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    Contact:
    Kathrin Stat
    +49(0)2173-38-4019
    kathrin.statz@bayerhealthcare.com

Contact: Kathrin Stat, +49(0)2173-38-4019, kathrin.statz at bayerhealthcare.com