Baylisascaris procyonis

Baylisascaris procyonis
Freshly hatched B. procyonis larvae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Chromadorea
Order: Ascaridida
Family: Ascarididae
Genus: Baylisascaris
Species:
B. procyonis
Binomial name
Baylisascaris procyonis
(Stefanski & Zarnowski, 1951)
Synonyms[1]
  • Ascaris procyonis Stefanski & Zarnowski, 1951

Baylisascaris procyonis, also known by the common name raccoon roundworm, is a roundworm nematode, found ubiquitously in raccoons, the definitive hosts. It is named after H. A. Baylis, who studied them in the 1920s–30s, and Greek askaris (intestinal worm).[2] Baylisascaris larvae in paratenic hosts can migrate, causing larva migrans. 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 the urbanization of rural areas, resulting in the increase in proximity and potential human interaction with raccoons.[3]

  1. ^ "Baylisascaris procyonis (Stefanski & Zarnowski, 1951)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ Carol Snarey (Nov 2010). "Etymologia: Baylisascaris". Emerg Infect Dis. 16 (11): 1819. doi:10.3201/eid1611.ET1611. PMC 3294543.
  3. ^ Drisdelle R (2010). Parasites. Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests. Univ. of California Publishers, 2010. p. 189f. ISBN 978-0-520-25938-6.