International travel with pets. Part III. Recognizing imported pathogens

This the final article in a three-part series on international travel with pets and the importation of foreign pathogens into the United-States. Almos t a million U.S, citizens temporarily reside outside U.S. territorial borde rs. These citizens often own pets that were either acquired in the U.S. but transported overseas or purchased or adopted overseas. en U.S, citizens re turn home, their pets usually return with them; these pets may be inadverte ntly infected with foreign diseases or parasites that have the potential to produce serious consequences within U.S. borders. Veterinarians must be ab le to advise clients regarding the multitude of diseases or parasites that might be encountered within any foreign ecosystem. Part I of this series ex plored the details and regulations of leaving and returning to the United S tates with pets. Part II reviewed the first two of the five major categorie s of "invading" pathogens. This article discusses the final three pathogen categories, which include leishmania species, Babesia canis, Babesia gibson i, Trypanosoma congolense, Schistosoma japonicum, and Tunga penetrans. Each pathogen is discussed in relation to geographic distribution, clinical pre sentation, diagnosis treatment, and zoonotic potential.