Tick-borne disease risk is shifting for UK pets and practices

The threat from ticks and tick-borne diseases is shifting in ways that matter for both animal and human health. In the UK, recent surveillance and review literature point to a changing risk picture: Ixodes ricinus, the main vector for Lyme disease, remains widespread, while Dermacentor reticulatus, the tick linked to canine babesiosis, has become an established concern in some areas of England and Wales. UKHSA says roughly 4% to 6% of ticks tested through its surveillance work carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease, and England recorded 1,581 laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease cases in 2024. Meanwhile, published reports on UK dogs continue to highlight locally acquired babesiosis cases in Essex tied to Babesia canis and D. reticulatus, showing that clinicians can no longer treat some tick-borne infections as travel-only problems. (gov.uk)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical change is diagnostic and preventive. Dogs presenting with fever, lethargy, anemia, thrombocytopenia, shifting-leg lameness, or vague inflammatory signs may warrant a more current tick-borne disease differential, even without foreign travel. Surveillance data and recent veterinary commentary suggest the risk is being shaped by shifting tick distribution, pet movement, habitat change, and longer seasonal activity, which raises the stakes for year-round prevention messaging, travel histories, tick checks, and client education for pet parents. Because Lyme disease is also a One Health issue, veterinary teams may be the first to spot patterns that matter beyond companion animal care. (vettimes.com)

What to watch: Watch for updated UK surveillance on tick distribution and pathogen prevalence, and for whether autochthonous canine babesiosis remains geographically focal or expands beyond known hotspots. (ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk)