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Baylisascaris procyonis

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Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm nematode, found ubiquitously in raccoons, its larvae migrating in the intermediate hosts causing visceral larva migrans (VLM). Baylisascariasis as the zoonotic infection of humans is rare, though extremely dangerous due to the ability of the parasite's larvae to migrate into brain tissue and cause damage. Concern for human infection has been increasing over the years due to urbanization of rural areas resulting in the increase in proximity and potential human interaction with raccoons.[1]

Baylisascaris procyonis Scientific classification Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Animalia Nematoda Nematoda Ascaridida Ascarididae Baylisascaris B. procyonis

Contents
1 Transmission 2 Epidemiology 3 Life cycle 4 Infection in Humans 5 Bioterrorism Threat 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Genus: Species:

Binomial name Baylisascaris procyonis


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Baylisascaris procyonis
Classification and external resources

Transmission
In North America, B. procyonis infection rates in raccoons are very high, being found in around 70% of adult raccoons and 90% of juvenile raccoons.[2] Transmission occurs similarly to other roundworm species, through the fecal-oral route. Eggs are produced by the worm while in the intestine, and the released eggs will mature to an infective state externally in the soil. When an infected egg is ingested, the larvae will hatch and enter the intestine. Transmission of B. procyonis may also occur through the ingestion of larvae found in infected tissue.[2]

Epidemiology
B. procyonis is found abundantly in its definitive host, the raccoon. The parasite has been found to have the ability to infect more than 90 kinds of wild and domestic animals.[2] Many of these animals act as intermediate hosts and the infection results in the penetration of the gut wall by the larvae and subsequent invasion of tissue, resulting in severe disease. In animals, it is the most common cause of larva migrans.[3] The raccoon plays an important role in the life cycle of the disease. Raccoons are solitary but will frequently defecate in communal areas known as latrines. These latrines are an abundant source of B. procyonis eggs, which can remain viable for years.[3] Raccoons therefore are important in maintaining the parasite, providing a source of infection for humans and other animals.[3]

Life cycle

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An adult worm lives and reproduces in the intestine of its definitive host, the raccoon. The female worm can produce between 115,000-179,000 eggs per day. Eggs are excreted along with feces, and become infective in the soil after 24 weeks. If ingested by another raccoon, the life cycle repeats. However, if these eggs are ingested by an intermediate host(small mammals, birds) the larvae of B. procyonis will penetrate the gut wall of the host and migrate into tissues. Larvae tend to migrate to the brain, cause damage, and affect the behaviour of the intermediate host making it an easier prey for raccoons. Reproduction does not occur in these parasitic hosts, however, if a raccoon preys on an infected intermediate host, the encysted larvae can become adults in the raccoon and the cycle resumes.[1]

Infection in Humans
The potential for human infection was noted by Paul C. Beaver in 1969 who studied infected mice, and the first case was reported 15 years later.[1] Human infection of B. procyonis has been relatively rare, with about 13 cases reported since 1980. However, disease caused by this parasite can be extremely dangerous, causing death or severe symptoms. Reported disease has primarily afflicted children and almost all cases were a result of the ingestion of contaminated soil or feces.[3] Out of the 13 cases, 5 were fatal and the remaining victims were left with severe neurological damage. Even with treatment, prognosis is poor. The common anti-helmintic medicines are able to treat adult worms living in the intestines, but are poor against migrating larvae. Animal studies have shown that treatment is more favorable before the larvae have migrated to the brain; however, migration to the brain was shown to occur only 3 days after ingestion, leaving a very small window of opportunity.[3]
The life cycle of B. procyonis.

It is possible that human infection is more common than diagnosed and most cases do not reach a clinical stage.[2]

Bioterrorism Threat
B. procyonis has become a concern for its potential use as an agent of bioterrorism. The fact that this parasite's eggs are easy to acquire, able to live for years, extremely resistant to many disinfectants and heat, and cause serious infections in humans with poor treatment options could make it a dangerous weapon.[3]

See also
List of parasites (human)

References
1. ^ a b c Drisdelle R. Parasites. Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests. Univ. of California Publishers, 2010. p. 189f. ISBN 978-0-520-25938-6. 2. ^ a b c d Sorvillo, F; Ash, LR; Berlin, OG; Morse, SA (2002). "Baylisascaris procyonis: an emerging helminthic zoonosis". Emerging infectious diseases 8 (4): 3559. PMC 2730233 (http://www.pubmedcentral.gov
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/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2730233) . PMID 11971766 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /pubmed/11971766) . 3. ^ a b c d e f Gavin, P. J.; Kazacos, K. R.; Shulman, S. T. (2005). "Baylisascariasis". Clinical Microbiology Reviews 18 (4): 703. doi:10.1128/CMR.18.4.703-718.2005 (http://dx.doi.org

/10.1128%2FCMR.18.4.703-718.2005) . PMC 1265913 (http://www.pubmedcentral.gov /articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1265913) .

PMID 16223954 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /pubmed/16223954) .

External links
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylisascaris_procyonis" Categories: Parasites | Nematodes This page was last modified on 25 June 2011 at 16:34. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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