Is Baylisascaris procyonis transmissible to humans?

• A. No
• B. Only in certain regions
• C. Yes
• D. Not known

Answer: (C)

The important idea is that humans can become infected with Baylisascaris procyonis by ingesting eggs shed in raccoon feces. Those eggs contaminate soil and surfaces, and they’re hardy enough to persist for weeks to months, becoming infective after a short development period in the environment. Humans are accidental hosts, and ingestion can lead to larva migrans, which in the nervous system can cause serious neurologic disease, especially in children who play in contaminated areas. Because raccoons and their latrines occur in many places, transmission to humans is a real and documented risk, not something limited to specific regions or unknown. Therefore, the correct answer is that it is transmissible to humans.