BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT TO

CHILDREN AND HUNTERS

G. McCommon, DVM; O. Samples, RVT, MPH, DHSc; A. CollinsFort Valley State University, Ft. Valley, GA

BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS

Gastrointestinal parasite of North American Raccoon (Procyons lotor)

Commonly known as “raccoon roundworm”

BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS – BIOLOGY

EXTERNALLY SPEAKING…

2-4 weeks for eggs to become infective

Embryonated egg contains 1 larvae

Upon hatching, larvae is a destructive

force to humans

EGGS SHED BY RACCOON

Ingested by definitive host

Ingested by paratenic host* *Paratenic host: intermediate host whose presence may or may not be required for

completion of life cycle but does not include parasite development

LARVAL INVASION

o 80 micrometers long

o Reproduce in raccoon

small intestines

o Excreted in fecal

matter

o Larvae can only reach

adulthood in raccoons

Larval Invasion of Hosts

Raccoons Definitive host

Dogs

Alternative definitive host

Small Mammals/Birds

Paratenic host*

*Paratenic host

a host not necessary for parasite development

RACCOON TOILETRY

Raccoons utilize “latrines” for

defecation/urination

Latrines are:

Communal areas of habitual excretion

Contaminated with eggs and larvae

DANGER…DANGER!!!

Common latrine sites

Attics

Crawlspaces

Woodpiles

Gutters

House Eaves/Gables

LATRINES

ZOONOTIC IMPLICATIONS

Latrines as well as raccoons, dead or alive pose serious

heath risks to humans

CONTAMINATION/INFECTION

Eggs may be picked up unknowingly and

ingested

Children

Individuals practicing geophagia (dirt eating)

Hunters (cleaning/handling carcass)

Taxidermists (carcass preservation)

INGESTION = INFECTION

Upon ingestion, eggs hatch into larvae

In humans larvae migrate to organs/tissues

Liver

Heart

Lungs

Brain

Eyes

VISCERAL LARVAL MIGRANS (VLM)

Heart

Brain

Lungs

Liver

OCULAR LARVAL MIGRANS (OLM)

Eyes

LIKE A ROLLING STONE

Larvae are notorious wanderers

Continue to grow as long as in human

body

Destroying tissue

Pathologic signs and symptoms

Can be fatal

THE LAZARUS EFFECT

Baylisascaris procyonis does not readily die

SYMPTOMS OF HUMAN BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS LARVAL INFECTION

Abdominal pain (VLM)

Loss of balance (VLM)

Loss of muscle coordination (VLM)

Blindness (OLM)

Death (VLM)

DIAGNOSIS

1. Blood evaluation of antibody levels

2. CSF evaluation of eosinophil presence

1. (brain & spinal cord)

3. CAT Scan/MRI

4. Ocular examination for larval activity

5. Biopsy of tissue

6. Autopsy

TREATMENT

No Cure!!!

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT

Corticosteroids

= suppresses inflammation

= minimize organ/tissue damage

Larvacide

Albendazole 25-50 mg/kg SID x 10

days

*possibility of Rx resistance

PREVENTION

1. Keep trash cans covered to discourage raccoon feeding

2. Keep attics and crawlspaces tightly sealed to discourage

habitation

3. Train children to wash hands before eating outside

4. Hunters and taxidermists should use gloves, masks, other

PPE’s when handling carcass

5. Keep gutters, eaves and gable areas clean of debris and

leaves to discourage latrine activity

QUESTIONS

MANY THANKS…

Department of Veterinary Science Ms. Jovy Pitts (creative design)

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention . (2015, March 18). Parasites -

Baylisascaris infection. Retrieved May 18,

2015, from cdc.gov:

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/baylisascari

s/biology.html