A stakeholder opinion-led study to identify canine priority diseases for surveillance and control in the UK

Many pathogens cause disease in dogs, however, meaningful surveillance in small companion animals is often only possible on the most impactful diseases. We describe the first stakeholder opinion-led approach to identify which canine infectious diseases should be prioritized for inclusion in surveillance and control strategies in the UK. Participants were identified through a stakeholder analysis. A multicriteria decision analysis was undertaken to establish and weight epidemiological criteria for evaluating diseases, and a Delphi technique was employed to achieve a consensus among participants on the top-priority canine diseases. Leptospirosis and parvovirus were identified as the top two endemic diseases of concern, whilst leishmaniasis and babesiosis were the top two exotic diseases. Respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases were identified as the top two syndromes of concern. Findings from this study are being used to inform the development of a future UK-wide epidemic response strategy. This methodology could provide a blueprint for other countries.