New Health Threat for Dogs and Owners as World Climate Changes

SEVILLE, Spain - Hotter summers and milder winters have a hidden health impact, with
experts now cautioning that warmer year-round weather will make more
countries a haven for disease-carrying pests.

Scientists from around the globe, gathered together this week in Seville
for the 4th Symposium of the CVBD (canine vector-borne disease) World Forum,
issued a plea for dog owners to be more vigilant about protecting their pet
and themselves from diseases spread by blood-sucking parasites as global
warming causes local temperatures to rise across the seasons. Dogs are
particularly vulnerable to attack from a variety of parasites, such as ticks,
fleas, sand flies, stable flies and mosquitoes, all of which are capable of
transmitting dangerous pathogens. Some of these pathogens may lead to severe
diseases in the dog, and, if left undiagnosed and untreated, may in some
cases be lethal.

Dr. Xavier Roura, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Universitat Autonoma de
Barcelona, Spain, explains: “Ongoing climate change, as well as the increased
movement of dogs through travel and importation, has enabled the wider spread
of infectious agents, with ticks, fleas and mosquitoes now finding niches in
new countries. Pet owners need to understand the severity of diseases such as
leishmaniosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, hepatozoonosis and Lyme disease, and
do what they can to treat and prevent them.”

The experts cite climate change as one of the main contributors to the
heightened incidence and global spread of existing diseases, as well as the
appearance of new ones from parasites not previously found in parts of the
US, Europe, or Asia.

Speaking at the official opening of the symposium, Tomas Molina,
Vice-Chairman of the European Association Of Broadcast Meteorologists said:
“Changes in temperature, rainfall and humidity affect the biology and ecology
of every living thing including, parasites. The warmer weather and milder
winters that we have been observing in many parts of the world have meant
that dangerous parasites are active for longer periods during the year. For
example, sand flies, which transmit leishmaniosis, become more abundant as
the climate warms. This, consequently, increases the risk of disease being
transmitted from parasite to animal.”

It has been estimated that average global temperatures will have risen by
1.0-3.5 degrees C by 2100,(1). Europe alone has warmed by an average of 0.8
degrees C over the last 100 years(2) and while these changes have not been
uniform, the greatest warming has occurred during winter and in the north.
Similarly, since 1900, average daily temperatures in the USA have increased
by approximately 0.4 degrees C, with most of this increase occurring over the
past 30 years,(3) and in Asia average temperatures have increased by 0.3-0.8
degrees C across the continent and are projected to rise by 0.4-4.5 degrees C
by 2070.(1)

“Pet owners and vets will be very interested to hear how changing
worldwide temperatures may affect their dog’s health. It is important they
are aware of how to best safeguard dogs from any increased health threats.
Preventative measures that not only kill parasites but also repel them before
they bite the pet appear to currently be the most effective choice to reduce
the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, helping to protect the
health of pet and owner,” added Dr. Roura.

The CVBD World Forum (www.cvbd.org) is supported by Bayer HealthCare,
Animal Health Division - a specialist in the field of parasite prevention.
The CVBD (IV) Symposium was held on March 26-28 (incl) in Seville, Spain.

“It is vital that we continue to investigate and predict future impacts
of parasite behaviour on animal and human health. Through ongoing research
and the accumulation of our scientific knowledge in animal health,
particularly in parasitology, we will be better equipped to identify new
disease threats and quickly work to effectively address them, advancing
today’s animal healthcare to meet the challenges of an evolving world,”
commented Margaret Fairhurst, Head of Global Marketing, Bayer Animal Health.

About The CVBD World Forum

The CVBD World Forum is a working group of leading experts in natural
sciences, veterinary and human medicine from Europe, North America, Latin
America, Australia and Asia. It was founded during the 1st International CVBD
Symposium in April 2006 in Billesley, UK, as a consequence of increasing
global threats through canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). The main goal of
the CVBD World Forum is to exchange knowledge and findings about
ectoparasite-pathogen-host interaction as well as the characterisation and
assessment of the distribution of pathogens and vectors in order to increase
awareness for the specific regional risks of CVBD and to foster preventative
measures. This work is supported by Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division.

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 EUR963 million (2008) 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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References

(1) Watson RT et al., eds. Climate Change 1995; impacts adaptations and
mitigation of climate change; scientific-technical analysis. Contribution of
Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press

(2) Watson RT et al., eds. The regional impacts of climate change. An
assessment of vulnerability. A special report of IPCC Working Group II,
Cambridge University Press 1998

(3) Karl TR, Knight RW, Plummer N. trends in high-frequency climate
variability in the twentieth century. Nature, 1995, 377: 217-220

Source: Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Division

Kerstin Nacken of Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Division, +49-(0)2173-38-4019, kerstin.nacken at bayerhealthcare.com