In autumn of 2010 we collected fecal samples from the rectums of 89 trapped or road-killed Pennsylvania raccoons (Procyon lotor). Similar samples were collected in the summer and autumn of 2011 from 383 raccoons. Fecal samples were stored in 10% formalin until examined. Using saturated sugar flotation and a direct smear, we found Baylisascaris procyonis eggs in 38% of 2010 samples and 32.9% of 2011 samples. Prevalence in raccoons was greater in autumn than in summer and greater in juveniles than in adults; there was not a statistically significant difference between sexes. Infected raccoons were found in 54 of the 65 counties from which samples were recovered (a mean of 5.9 [range 1–12] raccoons were examined per county). The prevalences were similar in all regions of the state.
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1 October 2014
Geographic and Temporal Prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Pennsylvania, USA
Walter O. Cottrell,
Robin L. Heagy,
Joshua B. Johnson,
Richard Marcantuno,
Thomas J. Nolan
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Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 50 • No. 4
October 2014
Vol. 50 • No. 4
October 2014
fecal flotation
parasite
Procyon lotor
zoonotic