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Baylisascariasis: Emerging Urban Threat in North America

Explore the potential local threat of Baylisascariasis, a parasitic infection transmitted by raccoons, impacting human health. Learn about the life cycle, expansion reasons, pathology, treatment, and prevention measures. Emphasizes the need for increased awareness and proactive prevention strategies.

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Baylisascariasis: Emerging Urban Threat in North America

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  1. Baylisascariasis: A Potential Local Threat Joshua Sabey BIOL 4800

  2. Emerging Diseases • HINI (Swine Flu) • Avian influenza (Bird Flu) • Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) • West Nile virus • Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow) • Staphylococcus aureus (Antibiotic Resistance) • Plasmodium (Malaria) • Baylisascaris procyonis (Raccoon Ascaris)

  3. Baylisascaris procyonis Eggs Larvae Adults • Nematode • Dioecious • Thick cuticle

  4. Life-Cycle

  5. Life-Cycle Specifics • Final host is Raccoon. • Has a wide range of intermediate hosts including birds, squirrels, woodchucks, and rabbits. • Larvae can also infect humans and cause major problems.

  6. Raccoon Range

  7. Raccoon Range Expansion • Raccoon harvest • 1000 pelts or more • MB = 1967 • SK = 1972 • AB = 1983

  8. Expansion Reasons 1. Anthropogenic Resources • Food availability (Garbage and food crops). • Den availability (Trees in parks or yards, chimneys, and attics). 2. Global Warming • Longer growing season = more food. • Mild winters = increased hibernation survival.

  9. Raccoon Problems • Average 20,000 eggs per gram of feces. • Also common carriers of rabies and canine distemper.

  10. The Urban Raccoon

  11. Raccoon Latrines

  12. Prevalence in Urban Areas • Percentage of yards surveyed that had latrines: Chicago = 51%, San Jose = 49%. • Percentage of latrines surveyed that were infective: Winnipeg = 50%, San Jose = 53%. • Percentage of captured individuals that were infected: Winnipeg = 50%. • Some areas in Florida have an infection rate of up to 82%.

  13. Pathology CLM VLM OLM • Children are at highest risk by playing in yards and parks.

  14. Pathology • Baylisascaris procyonis larval migration is more aggressive. • Larvae are larger and grow during migration. • Results in more damage to tissues. • Releases toxic proteins causing inflammation. • CLM = intense itching. • VLM = abdominal pain. • OLM = partial or total loss of vision.

  15. NLM Initial Picture 2 Weeks Later 6 Weeks Later • Encephalitis: inflammation of the brain. • Progressive neurological decline. • Treatment does not prevent damage.

  16. Treatment • OLM are treated through surgical removal or direct laser photocoagulation. • All other LM are treated with antihelminthic medications. • Despite treatment, there are no documented neurologically intact survivors of NLM. • 40% of documented cases were fatal. • 73% of documented cases were children under 3.

  17. Conclusions • Raccoon range expansion North and West into Canada is making baylisascariasis a potential local problem. • Increased Raccoon populations in urban areas are increasing human exposure rates. • Since treatment is not effective, emphasis should be put on prevention of exposure.

  18. References Gavin PJ, Kazacos KR, and Shulman ST (2005). Baylisascariasis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 18:703-718. Lariviere S (2004). Range expansion of raccoons in the Canadian prairies: review of hypotheses. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 32:955-963. Mehta P, Boyd Z, and Cully B (2010). Raccoon roundworm encephalitis. Pediatric Radiology. 11:1834-1836. Page LK, Anchor C, Luy E, Kron S, Larson G, Madsen L, et al. (2009). Backyard raccoon latrines and risk for Baylisascaris procyonis transmission to humans. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 15:1530-1531. Roussere GP, Murray WJ, Raudenbush CB, Kutilek MJ, Levee DJ, and Kazacos KR (2003). Raccoon roundworm eggs near homes and risk for larva migrans disease, California communities. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 9:1516-1522. Sexsmith JL, Whiting TL, Green C, et al. (2009). Prevalence and distribution of Baylisascaris procyonis in urban raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canadian Veterinary Journal. 8:846-850. Shafir SC, Wise ME, Sorvillo FJ, et al. (2006). Central nervous system and eye manifestations of infection with Baylisascaris procyonis. Current Infectious Diseases Report. 4:307-13.

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