Companion Animal Parasite Council
American non-profit reducing pet parasites and zoonotic risks.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC, commonly pronounced 'Cap-Cee') is an American non-profit organization (501c3) composed of practicing veterinarians, academic veterinary parasitologists, veterinary technicians, state public health veterinarians, and staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The group is dedicated to reducing the numbers of parasites in dogs and cats along with reducing the risk of transmitting these parasites and diseases to humans. It is sponsored mainly by industrial sponsors devoted to maintaining the health of pets through improved parasiticides and diagnostics that can be used by practitioners and clients in a safe and consumer-friendly manner.
- Field
- Veterinary parasitology and public health
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Reducing parasite burdens in dogs and cats and reducing zoonotic disease transmission
- Sponsorship
- Mainly industrial sponsors focused on parasiticides and diagnostics
- Membership
- Practicing veterinarians, academic veterinary parasitologists, veterinary technicians, state public health veterinarians, CDC staff
Lore & Background
The Companion Animal Parasite Council was formed as a 501c3 non-profit organization in the United States, bringing together a diverse group of professionals including practicing veterinarians, academic veterinary parasitologists, veterinary technicians, state public health veterinarians, and staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notable academic members include Dr. Byron Blagburn of Auburn University, Dr. Dwight D. Bowman of Cornell University, Dr. Michael Yabsley of the University of Georgia, and Dr. Heather Walden of the University of Florida. Practitioners such as Dr. Jay Stewart, Dr. Craig Prior, Dr. Rick Marrinson, and Dr. Scott Stevenson also serve on the council, along with public health veterinarian Dr. Emilio DeBess, veterinary technician Holly Morss, and CDC liaison Dr. Patricia Wilkins. The executive director is Dr. Chris Carpenter.
Reader's Guide
The Companion Animal Parasite Council plays a significant role in veterinary medicine and public health by focusing on the reduction of parasites in companion animals and the prevention of zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Its collaborative structure, which includes CDC liaison and state public health veterinarians, underscores its importance in bridging animal and human health. The council's recent publications include a series of articles in February 2010 in Trends in Parasitology, developed from a workshop with the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists and the CDC, covering diseases such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis, hookworm disease, dirofilariasis (heartworm), baylisascariasis, and tick and flea transmitted zoonotic diseases. Another publication, 'The Biology, Treatment, and Control of Flea and Tick Infestations,' includes authors who are present and past CAPC members. The council's work is supported by industrial sponsors, ensuring that its recommendations are grounded in practical, consumer-friendly diagnostics and parasiticides.
Did You Know?
- CAPC is commonly pronounced 'Cap-Cee'.
- The council includes a liaison from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- A series of articles from a CAPC workshop appeared in February 2010 in Trends in Parasitology.
- The council's membership includes a veterinary technician, Holly Morss of Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Companion Animal Parasite Council?
It is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unites veterinary professionals and public-health experts around one shared goal: tackling parasite problems in household pets and the diseases those parasites can pass to people.
What does the CAPC actually do in practice?
The group works to lower parasite burdens in dogs and cats while simultaneously cutting the odds that those parasites cross the species barrier and cause zoonotic infections in humans.
Who makes up the CAPC membership?
Its ranks include practicing veterinarians, university-based parasitology researchers, veterinary technicians, state-level public-health veterinarians, and staff members from the CDC.
How is the CAPC funded?
Its operations are largely underwritten by industrial sponsors whose product lines center on anti-parasite medications and companion-animal diagnostic tools.
Why does the CAPC matter in the broader zoonoses conversation?
Because a significant share of zoonotic parasites circulate through companion animals, the CAPC's dual focus on pet health and human protection makes it a key node where veterinary medicine and public health intersect.
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