Dogs imported into Finland may bring along new contagious diseases

The number of dogs imported into Finland has increased in the recent years. The import of dogs from countries with a different disease situation than Finland can contribute to the spread of diseases also in Finland as well as their formation as a permanent problem. Some of the diseases can also be transmitted to humans with serious consequences, and this could entail great costs for society, for example, by cases of suspected diseases caused by illegal imports. The Finnish Food Authority’s Risk Assessment Unit has assessed whether the import of dogs into Finland poses a risk to humans or animals in Finland with regard to certain diseases.

The risk assessment focused especially on the rabies vaccine antibody levels of imported dogs and on whether the dog was carrying canine brucellosis (Brucella canis), the alveolar echinococcosis parasite (Echinococcus multilocularis) and antibiotic-resistant ESBL-producing bacteria and MRSA bacteria. In addition, the samples taken from dogs were analysed for presence of Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania infantum (leishmaniosis). As part of the risk assessment, samples were taken from imported dogs for the purpose of conducting the analyses mentioned above.

Climate change can contribute to the emergence of new parasites

Part of the Cestoda family, the alveolar echinococcosis parasite (Echinococcus multilocularis) is not found in Finland, and this situation is maintained by, for example, requiring medication against tapeworms for all dogs imported into Finland. The alveolar echinococcosis parasite can also be transmitted to humans and cause serious illness. An echinococcal parasite can be transferred from a dog to a human or spread into the wild without it being noticed, because the dog carrying the parasite does not have any symptoms.

Based on the conducted risk assessment, however, wide spreading of the parasite in Finland is not likely, if the import requirements are followed. On the other hand, individual alveolar echinococcosis parasite exposures can occur, if dogs are imported illegally from an endemic area of the parasite and not sufficiently medicated.

Some of the parasitic diseases occurring in dogs can also be spread by mosquitoes. Based on the risk assessment, the risk of spreading the parasitic diseases carried by the dogs to a wider epidemic in the near future is minor for leishmaniosis and the D. immitis parasite, but with the D. repens parasite, this is possible, because the parasite can be spread by mosquitoes already present in Finland. The climate may also change over the next few decades to favour the spreading of leishmaniosis.

Bacteria and resistance to antibiotics can also spread through imports

MRSA bacteria and ESBL-producing bacteria are multi-resistant, for example, they are capable of resisting several types of antimicrobial medication.  Although they also occur in Finland, the resistance situation, however, is good. Because dogs and humans live in close contact, resistant bacteria can easily transfer between them. 

The ESBL property has been identified, among others, in the Escherichia coli bacterium which is normally present in the intestinal flora of humans and animals without causing any illness. The main risk factors with dogs carrying ESBL are their feeding with raw dog food and use of antimicrobial medication. In imported dogs, ESBL appears to be quite common, whereas MRSA was not present in the dogs examined.

The risk of resistance in an imported dog is affected, for example, by the hygiene level and the use of antibiotics in the country of origin. The dog’s state of health and feeding will again affect whether the dog will remain a carrier of the resistant bacterium. The dog being a carrier of a resistant bacterium is not visible from the outside.

Dogs are imported into Finland from countries where the infectious Brucella canis bacterium occurs. B. canis is mainly transmitted in connection with mating, as well as through aborted fetuses and obstetric secretions. As a result, imported dogs that are sterilized or castrated have a lower risk of spreading the disease than dogs imported, for example, into kennels for breeding purposes. The bacterium can rarely also be transmitted to humans, but its significance to public health is still unclear. 

Rabies must always be taken seriously

Finland is also rabies-free, and all imported dogs must be vaccinated against it. In addition to dogs, rabies can be transmitted to humans and other mammals. Rabies is always lethal, if prophylactic treatment is not started in sufficient time after the exposure.

The risk of an imported dog carrying rabies depends on the disease status of the dog’s country of origin, the dog’s vaccination status, and whether the dog has lived as a street dog, for example. On the basis of our risk assessment, there are at least 400 unvaccinated dogs arriving in Finland from rabies areas each year and, in addition, approximately 80 dogs with insufficient antibody levels due to other reasons.

Unvaccinated dogs imported from rabies areas pose a risk, even if the likelihood of an individual dog having rabies is low. A rabies-infected dog always poses a high risk to the people and animals in close contact with it. If the vaccination coverage of dogs in Finland is high, the spread of the disease in Finland is not likely.

Dogs are imported into Finland from several countries

Dogs are imported into Finland from several countries worldwide. Most dogs are imported from Russia, Spain, Estonia and Romania. Dogs imported into Finland can be roughly divided into registered pedigree dogs, which are imported, among other things, for breeding, and so-called rescue dogs and dogs from puppy mills. Adult dogs imported from Romania and Russia are usually street dogs, for example, their background is at least partly unknown. They may also have been exposed to various illnesses even before arriving at the dog shelter.

Dogs imported from Spain are usually abandoned pets and hunting dogs that most likely have not been street dogs for a very long time. The background of these dogs is not fully known either. Homeless dogs are imported into Finland by both registered associations as well as private people.

The risk assessment carried out is based on information obtained from samples of imported dogs, published scientific research and expert interviews. See the report Zoonotic pathogens in imported dogs (in Finnihs), the description in English

Read
An imported dog may pose a risk
Those importing a dog or considering transferring a dog to Finland can review the current import regulations from the Finnish Food Authority’s website:
from EU countries 
outside of the EU

For more information, please contact:
Heidi Rossow DVM (PhD), Senior Researcher, tel. +358 40 548 0071, Risk Assessment Unit
Suvi Joutsen LVM, Senior Researcher, tel. +358 50 500 4056, Risk Research Unit
Pirkko Tuominen DVM (PhD), Head of Unit, tel. +358 400 211 624, Risk Assessment Unit