The hidden danger in raccoon poop
I read this article recently that described the raccoon problem in Spain, in fact, the authors called it an “invasion”.
In recent years, the presence of raccoons in various areas of Spain has continued to increase to the point of becoming a real problem, they write in the first sentence.
Later in the piece, they talk about the diseases transmitted by raccoons—They can transmit rabies, distemper, toxoplasmosis or tuberculosis to people, livestock and pets.
The main disease they transmit is baylisascaris, since 65% of raccoons have this parasite.
This leads me to talk about the little known, but very dangerous, raccoon roundworm.
Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm found in the small intestines of raccoons. They excrete the eggs of this parasite in their feces. The eggs can survive in the environment for years under favorable conditions. There can be millions of eggs shed by the raccoon, with high densities in the feces and the soil surrounding it.
The raccoon roundworm is pretty indiscriminate in what animals it can infect; rabbits, woodchucks, squirrels, and birds amongst others. Many times these animals get infected by getting the eggs in their fur and ingest the eggs during grooming.
Humans also get infected by accidentally ingesting eggs from the environment, from raccoon feces, contaminated water or fomites. Raccoons typically defecate in favored areas called latrines. Common latrines include the bases of trees, raised forks of trees, fallen logs, rooftops, woodpiles and decks.
In animals and humans, the eggs hatch in the intestine and the larvae migrate through the body. The three most common disease manifestations are larval migrations through the tissues, to the eyes (blindness) and the central nervous system (brain damage and where the infection can be severe and even fatal). Young children and persons with pica, (an abnormal desire to eat strange things like dirt) and those who are exposed to areas where raccoons defecate are most likely to get infected.
Baylisascariasis does not spread person-to-person.
Symptomatic infection in humans is relatively rare with less than 3 dozen cases reported; however, a University of Georgia study several years ago suggests there can be asymptomatic infections.
Treatment for this parasite is generally ineffective in preventing death. If the treatment is started early enough, it could kill the larva before it enters the central nervous system.
How can you prevent this potentially life-threatening infection? According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention the following steps should be followed:
• Avoid direct contact with raccoons — especially their feces. Do not keep, feed, or adopt raccoons as pets! Raccoons are wild animals.
• Discourage raccoons from living in and around your home or parks by:
o preventing access to food
o closing off access to attics and basements
o keeping sand boxes covered at all times, (becomes a latrine)
o removing fish ponds — they eat the fish and drink the water
o eliminating all water sources
o removing bird feeders
o keeping trash containers tightly closed
o clearing brush so raccoons are not likely to make a den on your property
For more information, check out the video below: