Source: AVMA
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) has released its 2025 Annual Pet Parasite Forecasts, revealing continued geographic spread of four major vector-borne diseases: anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, heartworm, and Lyme disease. This expansion is largely driven by shifting tick and mosquito populations.
Lyme disease remains prevalent in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, with increasing risk in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and parts of the South. Heartworm risk is highest in the Southeast, spreading northward along the Mississippi River and Atlantic coast, with unexpected cases in the West. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are on the rise in the Southwest and non-endemic northern states due to the spread of infected ticks, including the indoor-dwelling brown dog tick.
CAPC urges year-round prevention and routine testing, warning that low-risk regions are not risk-free. The council emphasizes that veterinarians must stay vigilant as environmental changes continue to influence parasite behavior and disease distribution nationwide.
Read the full story HERE: https://www.avma.org/news/annual-capc-pet-parasite-forecast-predicts-continuing-spread-across-us