The Companion Animal Parasite Council created a top ten cities list of heart worm disease to prompt conversations between veterinarians and pet owners about the importance of annual testing and year-round prevention.

Areas that tend to have warmer climates and stable bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, or stagnant (standing) containers of water around homes experience higher numbers of mosquitoes that can transmit the parasite

CAPC board member Dr. Michael Yabsley notes, “What our monthly rankings show is that heartworm disease is a national threat, and pets are vulnerable to this disease in almost every community across the country.”

The notable increases in positive heartworm tests in pets in the top ten list and surrounding areas may have been caused by local exposure or exposure during travel.