Surveillance for Baylisascaris procyonis in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Wyoming, USA. 2014

Michael J Pipas, and L Kristen Page, and Kevin R Kazacos
1  US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Disease Program, 6731 West Coal Road, Casper, Wyoming 82604, USA.

Baylisascaris procyonis is a common roundworm of raccoons that causes severe clinical disease in many vertebrates, including humans. The distribution of B. procyonis in the US is poorly documented in portions of its range and has not been reported from Wyoming. Our objectives were to determine the statewide distribution and prevalence of this parasite in raccoons in Wyoming, using intestinal and fecal examinations. We examined 363 raccoons from 23 Wyoming counties in 2009-11, testing the reliability of two methods (intestinal extrusion and incision) to determine worm burdens. We found 163 raccoons (45%) positive for B. procyonis. The two methods of examination did not differ, although extrusion missed some infections. Neither age nor sex affected apparent prevalence or worm burdens. Prevalence did not differ with land use, yet burden was highest among rural raccoons. Fecal examination revealed that juvenile raccoons had a higher proportion of patent infections than adults, but neither sex nor location were indicators of prevalence. Egg density (eggs per gram of feces) did not differ by sex or age; however, rural raccoons had higher egg densities than urban/suburban animals. Understanding the distribution and prevalence of B. procyonis in Wyoming, especially in and around highly populated areas, is an important step in educating the general public and medical community on the potential risks of raccoon roundworm infection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010270 Parasite Egg Count Determination of parasite eggs in feces. Count, Parasite Egg,Counts, Parasite Egg,Egg Count, Parasite,Egg Counts, Parasite,Parasite Egg Counts
D011159 Population Surveillance Ongoing scrutiny of a population (general population, study population, target population, etc.), generally using methods distinguished by their practicability, uniformity, and frequently their rapidity, rather than by complete accuracy. Surveillance, Population
D011821 Raccoons Carnivores of the genus Procyon of the family PROCYONIDAE. Two subgenera and seven species are currently recognized. They range from southern Canada to Panama and are found in several of the Caribbean Islands. Procyon,Procyons,Raccoon
D005243 Feces Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001199 Ascaridoidea A superfamily of polymyarian nematode worms. An important characteristic of this group is the presence of three prominent lips around the mouth of the organism. Ascaroidea,Baylisascaris,Parascaris,Ascaridoideas,Ascaroideas,Baylisascari,Parascari
D014959 Wyoming State bounded on the north by Montana, on the east by South Dakota and Nebraska, on the south by Utah and Colorado, and on the west by Idaho and Utah.
D017191 Ascaridida Infections Infections with nematodes of the order ASCARIDIDA. Baylisascaris Infection,Baylisascaris procyonis Infection,Infections, Ascaridida,Raccoon Roundworm Encephalitis,Raccoon Roundworm Infections,Ascaridida Infection,Baylisascaris Infections,Baylisascaris procyonis Infections,Encephalitis, Raccoon Roundworm,Infection, Ascaridida,Infection, Baylisascaris,Infection, Baylisascaris procyonis,Infection, Raccoon Roundworm,Infections, Baylisascaris,Infections, Baylisascaris procyonis,Raccoon Roundworm Encephalitides,Raccoon Roundworm Infection,Roundworm Encephalitides, Raccoon,Roundworm Encephalitis, Raccoon,Roundworm Infection, Raccoon,Roundworm Infections, Raccoon

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