Prevalence, Distribution, and Risk Factors Associated WithMacracanthorhynchus ingensInfections In Raccoons From Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Macracanthorhynchus ingens is an acanthocephalan parasite commonly found in raccoons ( Procyon lotor) in the United States. Little is known, however, about the prevalence and distribution of M. ingens in raccoons in Canada. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors associated with M. ingens infection in raccoons in southern Ontario, Canada. Raccoon carcasses submitted to the Ontario/Nunavut region of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for post mortem from June 2016 to January 2017 (n = 380) were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal helminths. Macracanthorhynchus ingens was found in raccoons from areas across southern Ontario where carcasses were submitted. The prevalence of M. ingens in our sample was 14.0% (95% CI = 10.6-17.8) with a median of 4 worms per infected host (range 1-46). Univariable logistic regression modeling was conducted to examine the influence of age, sex, season, degree of urbanization (urban/suburban/rural), and Baylisascaris procyonis infection on the presence of M. ingens. Significant associations were found between M. ingens infection and degree of urbanization as well as B. procyonis infection. No associations were found between M. ingens infection and age, sex, or season. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the prevalence and distribution of M. ingens in raccoons in Canada.

Effect of urban habitat use on parasitism in mammals: a meta-analysis

“…Also, the conversion of natural, heterogeneous landscapes to urbanized areas dominated by infrastructure removes favourable breeding habitat for vectors and hosts [105]. For example, Macracanthorhynchus ingens primarily infects raccoons (Procyon lotor) but uses reptile or amphibian species as paratenic hosts [95]. Procyon lotor in rural Canada had a higher rate of M. ingens infection than P. lotor in urban Ontario, where habitat conditions are less ideal for reptiles and amphibians [95].…”

“…For example, Macracanthorhynchus ingens primarily infects raccoons (Procyon lotor) but uses reptile or amphibian species as paratenic hosts [95]. Procyon lotor in rural Canada had a higher rate of M. ingens infection than P. lotor in urban Ontario, where habitat conditions are less ideal for reptiles and amphibians [95]. Therefore, parasite life cycles dependent on specific food webs are disrupted by not only the overabundance of human food but also the reduced abundance of prey species that are unable to find suitable habitat in the urban environment.…”

Phylogeny and Life Cycles of the Archiacanthocephala with a Note on the Validity of Mediorhynchus gallinarum

“…Hosts reported for members of this family such as Oligacanthorhynchus tortuosa, include the Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana Allen, 1900 and the millipede Narceus amaricanus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1817) as intermediate host [11]. Raccoons, Procyon lotor Linnaeus, 1758 from USA and Bassariscus astutus (Lichtenstein, 1830) from Nicaragua are the definitive hosts of Macracanthrohynchus ingens, while its intermediate host is the millipede Chicobolus spinigerus (Wood), 1864 from USA [7,11]. Macracanthrohynchus hirudinaceus has been reported parasitizing the wild boar Sus scrofa from Iran, Japan and USA and beetles of the family Scarabaeidae family are the intermediate hosts [41][42][43].…”

“…Definitive hosts of Archiacanthocephala have been described as strictly terrestrial [1] and include hedgehogs, marsupials, rodents, carnivores and several orders of birds [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Archiacanthocephalans use invertebrates such as millipedes, termites and cockroaches [9][10][11][12][13] as intermediate hosts.…”

Analysis of supplemental wildlife feeding in Mississippi and environmental gastrointestinal parasite load

“…Though not a nematode, Macracanthorhynchus ingen is common in raccoons in Mississippi, and the eggs have similar morphology to some raccoon nematodes. ( 6 , 20 – 22 ). In raccoons, oocysts identified as coccidia were morphologically consistent with Eimeria spp.…”