| Sumario: |
To the Editor: Baylisascaris procyonis (Ascaridoi-
dea: Ascarididae) parasites are facultatively heteroxenous
nematodes that are widely distributed in the United States
and Canada, where prevalence rates reach 70%–90%. They
colonize the small intestine of their final host, the northern
raccoon (Procyon lotor), whose feces can contain up to 25
× 103
eggs/g. Under ideal environmental conditions (100%
humidity and 24°C), eggs become infective in soil (1,2).
When ingested by other mammalian hosts, third-stage lar-
vae can produce pathologic changes called larva migrans,
which can lead to chronic neurologic disorders and even
death (1,3). B. procyonis parasite infection of humans oc-
curs by the fecal–oral route (ingestion of eggs in contami-
nated food) (1). Small children are particularly vulnerable
through accidental geophagia. Public health concerns arise
where raccoon and human populations overlap.
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