Parasite Prevalence Maps

[F, Calla & Luca]

The Companion Animal Parasite Council has produced new maps to show the prevalence of certain parasites in the US. There is also a lot of information on various parasites including life cycles, diagnosis of infection, prevention and treatment.  Here is a link:

http://www.capcvet.org/parasite-prevalence-maps/

[F, Calla & Luca]

Hikers drinking from beautiful mountain streams get it too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do wish Spud well.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm also trying to find a thematic map of the US and Leptospirosis.  Spud never had this vaccine that I can find in his records. 

Maybe it is my computer but none of the maps will load for me.  Drag one into this discussion if you find one.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Joanne, I think it may be that giardia and leptospirosis are not listed because they are bacteria and not actual parasitic creatures like worms, mosquitoes, and ticks.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ahhh!  Thank you.  I know why I got a B in Micro   :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Although giardia is a parasitic protozoa, so I may be wrong. But maybe it has no geographic pattern, since it can over-winter.

[F, Calla & Luca]

True, it is a parasite. There is no map, maybe because it is so prevalent . But here is what the site says.

http://www.capcvet.org/capc-recommendations/giardia/

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That was very interesting, because I was always told it was zoonotic, and that you had to take precautions when cleaning up not to get infected yourself.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It does say it's rare if it occurs at all. I hope they are accurate : )

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I wonder if there's a socio-economic implication with some of these diseases.  For example, when I look at Heartworm prevalence in CT, it varies significantly from county to county....some High, some Med, and a few Low.  The county that is High is in a rural, lower income area of the state.  I'm just wondering if areas such as this are less likely to have owners that are providing regular preventative meds, and that is why there is a higher percentage of dogs testing positive.  On the flip side, it is the affluent counties that have a "Low" percentage of dogs testing positive.  Very interesting.....thanks for sharing F.  Should this be cross posted to the Medical Group?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Certain types of worms in humans, I think roundworms, used to have socioeconomic implications. I think it had to do with running around barefoot in the dirt, lol.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yup. I think hookworms and pinworms.