PATTERNS OF LATRINE USE BY RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR) AND IMPLICATION FOR BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS TRANSMISSION

Abstract

Mammals often use latrine sites for defecation, yet little is known about patterns of latrine use in many common species such as raccoons (Procyon lotor). Because raccoon latrines are important foci for the transmission of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), documenting metrics of raccoon latrine use may have public health implications. Although some studies have provided evidence that multiple raccoons visit single latrine sites, exact latrine visitation patterns of raccoons have never been documented. We monitored raccoon latrine usage using proximity-logging collars placed at 15 latrine sites. We found that latrine sites were visited by multiple raccoons (range 1-7), and raccoons visited as many as six latrines during a 2-wk period. No sex differences were found in the number of latrines visited or time spent during visits. We posit that the use of multiple latrine sites by raccoons may lead to the pattern that rates of B. procyonis infection at latrines are greater than infection rates found in individual raccoon fecal samples. This in turn could lead to greater transmission of B. procyonis to paratenic hosts. Our results support the conclusion that raccoon latrines can be major foci for the infection and spread of B. procyonis.

Epidemiology of Salmonella on the Paws and in the Faeces of Free‐Ranging Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) in Southern Ontario, Canada

“…Some raccoons in our study may have carried different serovars on their paws than what was found in their own faeces because raccoons in the wild likely step in faeces of other individuals at latrines; up to six or seven raccoons have been found to visit one latrine and individual raccoons can visit as many as six latrines during a 2‐week period (Hirsch et al., ). Kobayashi et al.…”

Update on Baylisascariasis, a Highly Pathogenic Zoonotic Infection

“…In a more recent report, the parents of a B. procyonis-positive child were also reported to have positive serology results (33). This clustered distribution of infections may be explained by the focused nature of the usual transmission sources (raccoon latrines), with shared or common exposure (1,9,59,60).…”

“…Typically, groups of raccoons (ranging from 2 to 7 raccoons) visit the same latrine sites, and individual raccoons may visit as many as six sites within a 14-day period. Based on continued contamination, this pattern of latrine visitation greatly increases the chances for B. procyonis transmission, especially for paratenic hosts, including humans (60,61), since B. procyonis eggs accumulate in latrines and can remain viable over an extended period of time (1,17,54,61). Because of all the seeds, berries, invertebrates, small plants, and other objects present in raccoon latrines, young children are fascinated by these areas, investigate and play in these sites, and knowingly or unwittingly ingest material from raccoon latrines, potentially ingesting large numbers of B. procyonis eggs that may also be present (1,4,30,55).…”

“…Raccoon latrines are the most important source of infection with B. procyonis, and they are routinely visited by a variety of animals, especially small rodents and birds which forage for seeds among raccoon feces (59,60,61). Raccoons and other animals may also share feeding areas, thereby providing additional opportunities for transmission (62).…”

<i>Baylisascaris procyonis</i> un nemátodo del mapache urbano, agente zoonótico emergente por considerar como diagnóstico diferencial de larva migrans en Costa Rica. Revisión

“…En el nuevo hospedero, la larva atraviesa la pared intestinal y se traslada, vía hemática, alcanzando los pulmones, hígado, ojos y sistema nerviosos central donde las larvas son enquistadas (Hirsch et al 2014). Los vertebrados, que sufren de larva migrante de tipo nerviosa, presentan cambios de comportamiento asociado encefalitis eosinófilica a nivel central.…”