People become infected by accidentally swallowing eggs from contaminated hands, soil, or objects contaminated with raccoon feces. People may also become infected by breathing in the microscopic eggs that may become airborne when dry.
Can you breathe in raccoon roundworm?
Raccoon droppings are dangerous because many contain tiny roundworm eggs that can infect humans and cause serious illness if accidentally swallowed or inhaled. Although these infections are rare, they can lead to irreversible brain, heart, and sometimes eye damage and death.
How is Baylisascaris transmitted?
Infection with Baylisascaris occurs when humans ingest infectious eggs from raccoon feces or from food, water, objects, or soil contaminated with raccoon feces that contain infectious eggs.
How likely is it to get raccoon roundworm?
Roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a common intestinal parasite of raccoon and is a cause of a fatal nervous system disease in wild animals. Raccoon roundworm is not new and its occurrence in raccoons ranges from 40-60% in adults and 90-95% in juveniles.
How long does raccoon roundworm eggs stay infectious?
These eggs must develop in the environment for 2 to 4 weeks, after which the eggs are able to cause infection. The eggs are resistant to most environmental conditions and with adequate moisture, can survive for years.
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