Raccoon roundworm as an occupational hazard to caregivers of captive wildlife.

Caregivers of captive wildlife are at risk of zoonotic diseases because they have prolonged contact with and potential exposure to many species of wildlife, their bodily fluids, and feces. One such zoonosis is Baylisascaris procyonis, an intestinal parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor). Larvae of B. procyonis can cause blindness, paralysis, and death in intermediate hosts, including humans. An infected population of raccoons can contaminate a wildlife facility, and thus expose the animals and their caretakers to a potentially debilitating and fatal parasite. Our objectives were to 1) determine the prevalence of B. procyonis-positive scats and raccoons within a wildlife facility, 2) determine the potential exposure of B. procyonis to captive wildlife and human caregivers, and 3) determine the most effective method to neutralize potential transmission of B. procyonis. During a 12-month period from July 2017 through June 2018, we captured 50 wild raccoons, 23 (46%) of which were infected with a total of 295 B. procyonis roundworms. Eighteen of 120 raccoon scats (15%) collected throughout the facility during the same period were infected with B. procyonis. We estimated about 20% of the total areas that house animals within the facility have B. procyonis-contaminated soil. Therefore, captive animals have the potential of contracting the parasite. A disproportionally greater number of B. procyonis-contaminated scats were found in and around food bins within the facility; thus, wildlife caregivers were exposed to potential B. procyonis infection. Flaming soil with a propane pear burner (i.e., gas-injected flaming torch) followed by discing (i.e., tilling the soil) and re-flaming the contaminated area for at least 1 minute/m2 was successful in rendering the majority of B. procyonis eggs within the top 2.5 cm of the soil column unviable. Soaking the contaminated area with water prior to flaming reduced the time needed to render eggs unviable. Personnel should always wear disposable gloves within a wildlife facility and thoroughly wash their hands upon leaving the facility to reduce their transmission risk to this zoonotic parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]