raccoon roundworm

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Raccoon Roundworm Raccoon Roundworm Meghann Cant March 17, 2008

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Page 1: Raccoon Roundworm

Raccoon RoundwormRaccoon Roundworm

Meghann Cant

March 17, 2008

Page 2: Raccoon Roundworm

OverviewOverview

1. What is it?

2. What does it do?

3. Why is it a problem?

4. What can be done about it?

Michigan Department ofNatural Resources

Page 3: Raccoon Roundworm

1. What is it?1. What is it?

• Baylisascaris procyonis– Nematode

– Parasite

– Family Ascarididae

– Distinct species

– Raccoons are its natural host

Page 4: Raccoon Roundworm

Life CycleLife Cycle

The Gable

Page 5: Raccoon Roundworm

EggsEggs

• Thick, sticky shell

• Single-celled embryo

• 63 to 88 μm by 50 to 70 μm

Centers for Disease Control

Page 6: Raccoon Roundworm

AdultsAdults

• Females: 20 to 22 cm long

• Males: 9 to 11 cm long

• Reproduce sexually

• 115,000 to 179,000 eggs/worm/day

Centers for Disease Control

Page 7: Raccoon Roundworm

2. What does it do?2. What does it do?

Raccoons

• Usually subclinical

• Heavy: 43 to 52 worms

• Juveniles: 48 to 62 worms

• Adults: 12 to 22 worms

Scott Paulson

Page 8: Raccoon Roundworm

PrevalencePrevalence

(Gavin et al. 2005)

Page 9: Raccoon Roundworm

3. Why is it a problem?3. Why is it a problem?

• Zoonotic

• Average: 20,000 to 26,000 eggs shed/gram of feces

• Highest on record: > 250,000 eggs shed/gram of feces

• It only takes a few to cause disease!

Page 10: Raccoon Roundworm

Accidental IngestionAccidental Ingestion

Birds and rodents

• Seeds in feces

Children

• Contaminated soil or water

Kevin Kazacos

Page 11: Raccoon Roundworm

Disease PotentialDisease Potential

• Urban areas

• Latrines

University of South Carolina

Page 12: Raccoon Roundworm

LatrinesLatrines

(Roussere et al. 2003)

Page 13: Raccoon Roundworm

DiseaseDisease

• Dead-end host

• Visceral larval migrans– Liver, lungs, eyes, brain, spinal cord

• Ocular larval migrans– Eyes

• Neural larval migrans– Brain and spinal cord

Page 14: Raccoon Roundworm

SymptomsSymptoms

• Tiredness

• Nausea

• Loss of muscle control

• Blindness

• Paralysis

• Coma

• Death

Page 15: Raccoon Roundworm

Disease IncidenceDisease Incidence

(Gavin et al. 2005)

Page 16: Raccoon Roundworm

4. What can be done about it?4. What can be done about it?

• Eggs remain viable in the environment for years

• Disinfectants do not work

• High heat is effective, but often impractical

Critter Care Wildlife Society

Page 17: Raccoon Roundworm

TreatmentTreatment

Humans

• Albendazole and dexamethasone

• Start immediately

Raccoons

• Pyrantel pamoate

• Mebendazole

• Fenbendazole

Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory

Page 18: Raccoon Roundworm

PreventionPrevention

• Do not feed raccoons

• Use gloves, boots, and masks

• Follow quarantine procedures

• Dispose of latrines properly

Meghann Cant

Page 19: Raccoon Roundworm

Any questions?Any questions?

Critter Care Wildlife Society