Raccoon roundworm: The rare and potentially lethal zoonosis

Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm found in the small intestines of raccoons. Humans get infected, albeit rarely (30-something cases have been reported; however, it is probably more common than documented), by accidentally ingesting eggs from the environment, from raccoon feces, contaminated water or fomites. The three most common disease manifestations of Baylisascaris are larval migrations through the tissues, to the eyes (blindness) and the central nervous system (brain damage). Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Parasitology at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Kevin Kazacos, DVM, PhD joined me for a comprehensive interview about this little known, but very dangerous parasite.