Geographic Distribution of Raccoon Roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, Germany and Luxembourg

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 821 - 823
• Main Authors: Heddergott, Mike, Steinbach, Peter, Schwarz, Sabine, Anheyer-Behmenburg, Helena E, Sutor, Astrid, Schliephake, Annette, Jeschke, Diana, Striese, Michael, Müller, Franz, Meyer-Kayser, Elisabeth, Stubbe, Michael, Osten-Sacken, Natalia, Krüger, Susann, Gaede, Wolfgang, Runge, Martin, Hoffmann, Lothar, Ansorge, Hermann, Conraths, Franz J, Frantz, Alain C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01-04-2020; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Ascaridida infections; Consumer protection; Diseases; Geographic Distribution of Raccoon Roundworm; Germany; Germany and Luxembourg; introduced species; Luxembourg; Mammals; nematodes; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Public health; Public health movements; raccoons; Research Letter; Roundworm infections; Roundworms; Worms; Zoonoses; Luxembourg; Germany; Ascaridida infestation; Luxembourg; parasites; parasitic diseases; zoonoses; Baylisascaris procyonis; raccoons; Germany; introduced species; nematodes
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2604.191670

Infestation with Baylisascaris procyonis, a gastrointestinal nematode of the raccoon, can cause fatal disease in humans. We found that the parasite is widespread in central Germany and can pose a public health risk. The spread of B. procyonis roundworms into nematode-free raccoon populations needs to be monitored.