India, March 18 -- Researchers recommend caution for pet owners; parasite normally found in southern US, found in California for first time

A dog-killing flatworm parasite has been discovered in southern California's Colorado river, scientists from University of California, Riverside have confirmed in a new study published in journal Pathogens . The worm was previously believed to be largely confined to the southeastern United States but the new research shows it has spread to western parts of the country as well.

Heterobilharzia americana, commonly called the liver fluke parasite, was previously predominantly observed in Texas and other Gulf Coast states. However, it has never been documented to extend as far west as its current report...