Geographic Distribution of Raccoon Roundworm, <i>Baylisascaris procyonis</i>, Germany and Luxembourg
Mike Heddergott, Peter Steinbach, Sabine Schwarz, Helena E. Anheyer‐Behmenburg, Astrid Sutor, Annette Schliephake, Diana Jeschke, Michael Striese, Franz Müller, Elisabeth Meyer-Kayser, Michael Stubbe, Natalia Osten‐Sacken, S. P. Kruger, Wolfgang Gaede, Martin Runge, Lothar Hoffmann, Hermann Ansorge, Franz J. Conraths, Alain C. Frantz
Abstract
T he raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a gastrointestinal parasitic nematode of the raccoon (Procyon lotor). It is common in its native range in North America, where its prevalence in raccoons can reach 82% (1). Through their feces, infested raccoons can shed millions of B. procyonis eggs, which may remain infective in the environment for years (2). Paratenic hosts can acquire the parasite when ingesting nematode eggs from raccoon latrines (3).