Leishmaniosis in UK Dogs: Nearly Every Case Was Imported
Of 976 UK dogs with leishmaniosis in 2019, all but 21 came from abroad. Most were diagnosed before they arrived, but some tested negative first.
Written by thecanineledger
If your dog came from southern Europe, or travelled there, and has skin sores, weight loss, eye inflammation or lameness, book a vet appointment. Tell the vet where your dog has lived and travelled.
Our note: This advice is ours. The paper lists typical signs but gives no owner advice.
→ Adopting a Dog From Abroad: Rabies Rules, Brucella, and What Changed
In UK practice records for 2019, 955 of 976 dogs with leishmaniosis had been imported or rescued from abroad (Kent et al., PLoS One 2026). Only one had no record of ever leaving the UK.
While that makes it sound like a problem you can screen out at the border, 54 of the dogs diagnosed in the UK had tested negative before they were imported.
1. The disease
What it is. Leishmaniosis is caused by a parasite spread by sandflies. It is common in southern Europe.
Why the UK is different. The authors write that “Transmission risk in the UK remains very low because no incursions of the sandfly vector have been recorded into the UK.”
What it looks like. Signs vary widely. In this study, skin and mucous membrane lesions were the most common first sign, seen in about 43% of cases.
2. The study
The records. The researchers searched records for over 2.2 million dogs at UK practices in a large database run by the Royal Veterinary College.
How common. They found 976 cases, about one dog in 2,300.
Funding. The authors received no specific funding. We found no competing-interests statement.
3. Where the dogs came from
| Origin | Share of cases |
|---|---|
| Spain | about 42% |
| Greece | about 16% |
| Cyprus | about 12% |
| Not recorded | about 19% |
Diagnosed before arrival. About six in ten imported cases had already been diagnosed abroad. The authors say these owners knew their dog was infected.
Negative tests. Of the dogs first diagnosed in the UK, 54 had tested negative before import. The authors note that tests are imperfect, and that infected dogs can take five months or longer to test positive.
Our note: The paper doesn’t say whether imported dogs should be retested after arrival. Ask your vet.
→ Brucella canis and Imported Rescue Dogs: The Real Risk to You
4. Which dogs
Breeds. Brittany Spaniels, Ibizan Hounds and English Pointers had the highest odds. The authors think this reflects which breeds are often imported, not a higher risk built into the breed.
Sex and neutering. Males and neutered dogs had higher odds. The authors suggest neutering by rehoming charities may explain the neutering link.
Where in the UK. Cases clustered in southern England, especially Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Our note: We left out human health. The paper says people can catch leishmaniosis, so check official health advice if you’re concerned.
5. What the study can’t tell you
Missed cases. Signs are often vague, so some cases may have been missed.
False cases. Some dogs diagnosed abroad on a blood test alone may only have been exposed, not infected.
Small slips. The paper gives the imported share as both 97.9% and 97.8%. It says 54 of 374 dogs tested negative before import, but its 13.7% figure matches 54 of 395. It also gives the one untravelled dog as 0.01% of cases, when 1 of 976 is about 0.1%.
Our note: The paper doesn’t report treatment or long-term outlook, so we leave them out.
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “UK dogs can catch it at home” | Very rare. Only one case had no record of travel, and the paper says the sandfly hasn’t been recorded in the UK. |
| “A negative test before import rules it out” | No. 54 dogs tested negative before import and were diagnosed later. |
| “Some breeds are naturally prone to it” | Not shown. The authors think the breed links reflect which breeds are imported. |
Sources
- Kent SC, O’Neill DG, Stevens KB, Solano-Gallego L, Brodbelt DC. The frequency, risk factors and spatial distribution associated with having a diagnosis of leishmaniosis in dogs in the UK in 2019. PLoS One 2026: VetCompass UK records, 976 cases among 2,250,741 dogs. No specific funding
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.