On August 1, 2008, Compendium attended the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) 2008 Parasitology Educational Tour event at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey. In these videos, Byron L. Blagburn, MS, PhD, and Dwight D. Bowman, MS, PhD, present current data and personal experience to demonstrate the importance of preventing parasitic infections and related disease in companion animals. Attendees were eligible to receive 2 hours of continuing education credit. More information about CAPC is available at the organization's website, capcvet.org.

Understanding the Risks of Vector-borne Diseases

In the first presentation, "More Than Just Pests: Understanding the Risks of Vector-borne Diseases," Dr. Blagburn talks about ticks and other external parasites, how they transmit disease, and the risks they present to both human and animal health. He also provides resources on vector-borne diseases that veterinarians can use when talking to clients about the importance of year-round disease prevention.

Intestinal Parasites Are Everywhere

In the second half of the CAPC meeting, Dr. Bowman "preaches" on the subject of protecting the human-animal bond in his presentation, "Intestinal Parasites Are Everywhere: The Case for Aggressive Year-Round Control." He discusses the zoonotic potential of gastrointestinal parasites and presents information on the spread of canine and feline heartworm disease in the United States in an engaging talk that also manages to touch on vampires, the Eisenhower Interstate System, and mud pies, among other unexpectedly related subjects.