Helminth parasites of an introduced invasive carnivore species, the raccoon ( Procyon lotor L.), from the Warta Mouth National Park (Poland)

J Parasitol. 2011 Apr;97(2):357-60. doi: 10.1645/GE-2525.1. Epub 2010 Oct 11.

Abstract

We evaluated helminth parasites of the introduced North American raccoon ( Procyon lotor L.) in Poland. From June 2006 to May 2007, 91 raccoon fecal samples were collected in the Warta Mouth National Park situated in western Poland near the Polish-German border. Coprological analyses involved flotation and sedimentation. In total, 7 helminth taxa were identified in the feces: Ancylostoma spp., Baylisascaris procyonis, Capillariidae, Placoconus lotoris, Spirocerca lupi, Strongyloides procyonis, and Echinostoma sp. The parasite assemblage in the raccoon exhibited a low diversity. The results were compared with data from other European and North American studies and suggest a lower prevalence of parasites in newly invaded areas, compared with earlier invaded areas or the native range.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodiversity
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / parasitology*
  • Helminths / classification*
  • Helminths / isolation & purification
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Raccoons / parasitology*