Baylisascaris procyonis Roundworm Seroprevalence among Wildlife Rehabilitators, United States and Canada, 2012-2015

Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Dec;22(12):2128-2131. doi: 10.3201/eid2212.160467.

Abstract

Baylisascaris procyonis roundworms can cause potentially fatal neural larva migrans in many species, including humans. However, the clinical spectrum of baylisascariasis is not completely understood. We tested 347 asymptomatic adult wildlife rehabilitators for B. procyonis antibodies; 24 were positive, suggesting that subclinical baylisascariasis is occurring among this population.

Keywords: Ascaridoidea; Baylisascaris procyonis; Canada; United States; ascarid roundworm; baylisascariasis; larva migrans; occupational illnesses; parasites; raccoons; roundworms; seroprevalence; wildlife; wildlife rehabilitators; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild*
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Ascaridida Infections / epidemiology*
  • Ascaridida Infections / history
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Ascaridida Infections / transmission*
  • Ascaridoidea* / immunology
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Geography, Medical
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Male
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G