Research Strategy Plan

Quantitative –

The type of research strategy we will use is quantitative, i.e data will be collected so statistical data can be generated.

Introduction –

Baylisascaris procyonis infection is recognized as an important and widespread new emerging helminthic infection of both animals and humans. Procyon lotor (raccoon) is believed to be the most favorable host for this ascaris roundworm; reported infestation rates are as high as 70% in adult raccoons and can exceed 90% in juvenile raccoons. Because of the close interaction of urban raccoons with human populations and pets, this parasite is now been recognized as a cause of severe human disease.

When raccoons ingest the eggs of this parasite, the larvae hatch and enters the wall of the small intestine and then develops into adult worms in the small bowel. These adult worms shed eggs into the raccoon’s bowel. Although raccoons are not significantly affected by these parasites, ingestion of the eggs by other suboptimal host (wrong host) mammals (including rodents, birds, dogs and other domestic mammals) results in extra-intestinal migration of larvae, and notably invasion of the brain and eyes. The migration of helminth larvae through tissue in suboptimal hosts is termed larva migrans and may affect the viscera (visceral larva migrans [VLM]), the eye (ocular larva migrans [OLM]), or the nervous system (neural larva migrans [NLM].

It has been written that B. procyonis larvae have been found in more than 90 species of wild and domestic mammals and birds, including dogs, chickens, pheasants, quail, guinea pigs, domestic rabbits, rodents, porcupines, chinchillas, prairie dogs, woodchucks, emus, foxes, weasels and primates. Outbreaks of B. procyonis infestation have been reported on farms, in zoos, among pets and in research animal colonies.

In the past, B. procyonis infection was diagnosed by morphologic identification of larvae in tissue sections. However, morphologic identification is often difficult and unreliable because a number of possible larval nematodes share very similar morphology, including Toxocara canis, T. cati, Ascaris lumbricoides, and species of Gnathastoma, Angiostrongylus and Ancylostoma, as well as larval cestode infections such as cysticercosis and echinococcosis. While serologic testing has been used in some cases as supportive diagnostic evidence, commercial serologic tests are not available. Presumptive diagnosis has often been made on the basis of clinical data (meningoencephalitis, diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis [DUSN], pseudotumor), epidemiologic data (raccoon exposure), radiologic data (white matter disease), and blood and CNS eosinophilia.

This research has a potential for biohazard contamination on the researchers themselves, however, protective gear and proper disinfection protocols will be applied. The Fish & Game standard procedures for cleaning raccoon latrines will be applied at all times.

Utilities-

·  Confirm the disease causing agent;

·  Ensure that animal groups are free of Baylisascaris Procyonis;

·  Early prevention of spread of Baylisascaris procyonis between animals;

·  Minimize human exposure to Baylisascaris procyonis;

·  Report Baylisascaris procyonis infestation to proper authorities (NCEZID);

·  Educate the public at large about B. procyonis;

·  Develop an inspection protocol for property securement agencies hired by banks and Cities;

Problem Statement-

The risk of human infestation by this parasite has risen alarmingly due to pets’ contact with raccoon feces. Many homes have been foreclosed upon and are now empty, inviting raccoon populations to move in as pests, increasing the risk of exposure to B. procyonis, in urban and residential areas.

Purpose-

Studies have shown that a single adult female worm can produce hundreds of thousands of eggs per day, and an infected raccoon may shed as many as 45 million eggs daily (Jacobson et al., 1982; Kazacos and Boyce, 1989). These eggs can remain viable in the environment for years and become an airborne infectious agent when dried. Accidental ingestion or aspiration of the eggs by humans via contact with infected domestic animals or soiled of emptied foreclosed homes can lead to severe human infection, permanent brain damages and even death.

Hypothesis-

Baylisascaris procyonis is directly linked to geography, and is less prevalent in Southern California than it is presently in the north eastern states like Maine, Vermont, and New-Hampshire. However, we suspect that a high number of empty foreclosed homes will attract wildlife and thus a higher number of B. procyonis will be found. It is possible to develop an inspection and disinfection protocol for property securement agencies hired by banks and Cities.

Definition of Key Terms-

·  Baylisascaris procyonis: round worm (nematode) normally found in raccoons.

·  Zoonotic: diseases or parasites that can be passed from animals to humans

·  Antihelminth: various medications used to kill parasites

·  Property securement agencies: home inspection companies hired by banks and Cities

Review of Literature -

Raccoon latrine structure and its potential role in transmission of Baylisascaris procyonis to vertebrate Page, L Kristen; Swihart, Robert K; Kazacos, Kevin R; The American Midland Naturalist; Jul 1998; 140, 1; ProQuest Research Library pg. 180

Jacobson, J.E., Kazacos, K.R., and Montague, F.H. (1982) Prevalence of eggs of Baylisascaris procyonis (Nematoda:Ascaroidea) in raccoon scats from an urban and a rural community. J Wildl. Dis. 18:461-464.

Kazacos, K.R. and Boyce, W.M. (1989) Baylisascaris larva migrans. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 195:894-903.

Methodology -

ELISA test, Fecal smear, Fecal flotation using Sheather solution, contaminated soil tests and centrifugal histology tests. Specimen requirement: 1 g feces, or 1 g soil, or 1 g of tissue.

Molecular detection techniques are now also available to detect B. procyonis. With this more advanced approach, preventive screening and environmental surveys are thus possible, enabling identification of animal vectors, even contaminated soils and living areas.

Population and Sampling-

Animals will be tested, but they will not be tested on. The animals that will be tested are local domestic life surrendered by their owners at our facilities; injured and/or orphaned local urban wildlife. We will also get our wildlife from trappers and pest control removal agencies who cannot legally relocate wildlife. Hence, cats, dogs, goats, raccoons, opossums, skunks, badgers and rodents that are admitted at our facilities will be subjected to a broad spectrum of parasite testings and upon positive findings, will be immediately medically treated to correct the situation and prevent zoonotic outbreak of larvae migrans. Contaminated areas will be disinfected. Only parasite-free animals will be adopted out in the case of domestic animals; in the case of wildlife, only parasite-free, healthy and vaccinated animals will be released into the wild. Most animals will not be touched, as only fecal test will be performed.

Data Analysis-

All data will be entered in a table of Microsoft Excel format, where data cells will be self-calculated and averages will be generated. We hope to create graphs and charts that will be self-explanatory.

Conclusion-

We hope to conclude that our findings will demonstrate that the prevalence of B. procyonis is not as wide spread in Southern California as it is in the northern eastern states. Lastly, we hope to conclude that the presence of an unusual high number of empty foreclosed homes is an open invitation for wildlife to move in, and that the lack of a proper protocol on the behalf of property securement agencies might be causing B.procyonis infestation in pets and humans.

Significance-

It is of utmost significance for human health to detect and control infestation of B. procyonis.

Banks and Cities are mainly the owners of the majority of these empty foreclosed homes. Developing a protocol for property securement agencies hired by banks and Cities would minimize the human (and pet) contact with B. procyonis.

Limitations-

Any scientific research has its own limitation. In our case, the limitation is that we only deal with animals admitted to our facilities, leaving out many animals that could be tested on. However, we believe that the animals admitted at our facilities represent nevertheless a fair part of their population and that they can be considered as admissible for statistical and geographical data on the prevalence of B. procyonis.