Contributor: Kevin R. Kazacos, DVM, PhD, DACVM

Kevin R. Kazacos, DVM, PhD, DACVM

Kevin Kazacos is Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Parasitology and former Director of Clinical Parasitology at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Kazacos earned a BS in biology in 1971 from the State University of New York at Albany, a PhD in parasitology in 1974 from the University of Notre Dame, and a DVM in 1979 from Purdue University. He served on the faculty of Purdue University from 1979 to 2014, where he enjoyed teaching veterinary and graduate students…

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Zoonotic concern: Baylisascaris procyonis

This zoonotic concern article reviews Baylisascaris procyonis or the raccoon roundworm. Baylisascaris procyonis exhibits a typical ascarid life cycle with adult female worms in the raccoon intestine depositing eggs that are shed in the raccoon feces. Humans can serve as paratenic or accidental hosts of B. procyonis, however more than 150 species of free-ranging and captive wildlife, zoo animals, and domestic animals have also been afflicted. When infective eggs are ingested by paratenic hosts, Baylisascaris larvae can migrate through the brain, eye, and other organs, causing serious health issues. Who is most at risk? What strategies can be implemented to prevent exposure to infective roundworm eggs?