Infestation with Baylisascaris procyonis, a gastrointestinal nematode of the raccoon, can cause fatal disease in humans. We found that the parasite is widespread in central Germany and can pose a public health risk. The spread of B. procyonis roundworms into nematode-free raccoon populations needs to be monitored.
Keywords: Ascaridida infestation; Baylisascaris procyonis; Germany; Luxembourg; introduced species; nematodes; parasites; parasitic diseases; raccoons; zoonoses.