Belgium officials warn of raccoon roundworm in Wallonia
Wildlife officials in Wallonia, in southern Belgium, are warning the public about the presence of the parasite, Baylisascaris procyonis, aka the raccoon roundworm, among the region's raccoon population.
Six samples taken by the Walloon Region's Wildlife Health and Pathology Service revealed the presence of the parasite.
"The risk of being contaminated is low, but the seriousness of contamination should not be overlooked," stated Annick Linden of the Wildlife Health and Pathology Service, whose department is credited with identifying the parasite.
Belgium classifies raccoons as an "invasive species" for their disruptive effect on biodiversity as well as on human health.
The raccoon population was estimated at 70,000 in 2023, according to the Walloon public service's Invasive Species Unit. However, this figure, which has not been revised, is already outdated. “Since last year, we have been observing an increase in the number and frequency of raccoon sightings in areas where the animal was already prevalent,” unit member Étienne Branquart explained.
What is Baylisascaris procyonis?
Also known as the raccoon roundworm, B. procyonis is the most common and widespread cause of clinical larva migrans in animals. It is a ubiquitous roundworm infection of raccoons (Procyon lotor) and is emerging as an important helminthic zoonosis, primarily in young children.
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Baylisascaris procyonis and related species are large nematodes of the order Ascaridia. Other, more familiar ascarids are Ascaris lumbricoides, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, nematode parasites of humans, dogs and cats, respectively.
Risk to Humans and Disease
There are two factors that put people at risk for infection: 1) contact with raccoons, their feces, or the contaminated environment and 2) geophagia of pica. Humans who accidentally come into contact with active or abandoned latrines are at risk. Young children are at particular risk because of the habit of placing their fingers or objects in their mouths.
Larval migrans is the prolonged migration and persistence of helminth larvae in the organs and tissues. Disease manifestations of human baylisascaris include visceral, neural and ocular larva migrans.
The clinical manisfestations of severe disease include eosinophilic encephalitis, permanent neurological damage, ocular disease and blindness, and death.
Learn more about the raccoon roundworm in the following video: