MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Anita D. Sircar, MD Epidemic Intelligence Service Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria Center for Global Health CDC MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm commonly found in raccoons. It can be found anywhere in the United States where raccoons live. People, especially children, can be infected by this roundworm when they accidentally ingest contaminated raccoon feces. Infection with Baylisascaris procyonis can have severe outcomes in people such as blindness and even death if not treated promptly. Despite expansion of the geographic distribution of Baylisascaris procyonis in the last 14 years and probable increasing human exposure, baylisascariasis is likely an underreported disease: only 22 documented cases were reported in the United States during 1973–2010. During May 2013–December 2015, seven additional cases of baylisascariasis were identified among patients in the United States through testing at CDC, including six cases of central nervous system disease and one of ocular disease. Laboratory and clinical information for each patient was gathered and reviewed in a case series to contribute to knowledge about Baylisascaris procyonis infection. All seven patients survived, although approximately half had residual neurologic sequelae. (more…)