Baylisascaris procyonis
From IDWiki
- Nematode found in raccoon feces, known as the raccoon roundworm
Background
Microbiology
Life Cycle
- Direct life cycle involves raccoons (Procyon lotor)
- Indirect life cycle can involve other vertebrates, including humans
Epidemiology
- Eggs can be ingested from soil contaminated by raccoon feces
- The worm can infect a number of vertebrate animals
Clinical Presentation
- Can cause neural larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis, visceral larva migrans, as well as asymptomatic infections
Further Reading
- Update on Baylisascariasis, a Highly Pathogenic Zoonotic Infection. Clin Microbiol Rev/ 2-16;29(2):375-399. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00044-15
