What is Raccoon Roundworm(R.R.)?
scientific name Baylisascaris Procyonis,commonly reffered as R.R. is a parasitic worm that is found in Raccoons. It can cause a rare and severe illness in humans that accidentally swallow the parasite's eggs.
What is the life cycle of R.R.
The life cycle of R.R. starts when eggs are shed from an infected Raccoon. Two to Four weeks later the eggs embryonate and become infective.Other small mamals ands small birds ingest the eggs. The eggs hatch in the gut of the new host, penetrate the guut wall, migrate into other tissues such as the heart and turn into cysts.The life cycle completes when a Raccoon eats these hosts, the larvea mature in the Racoon's gut and the process repeats. When a human unknowingly ingests the infectious eggs, thje eggs hatch in the gut, migrate to other tissue such as the heart, liver, and brain.Unfortunately,R.R. cannot migrate back to the gut in humans, causing the worms to grow by eating tisue and die causing damage tol the organs and can cause rare but severe neurologicakl and ocular diseases.
Statistics of R.R.
Since the first confirmed human case of R.R. in 1984, there have been only roughly 35 confirmed cases in the United States. Out of the roughly 35 cases, there has only been 5 to 7 confirmed deaths in the US.
How to protect yourself from R.R.
The easiest way to protect yourself from R.R. is by washing your hands thuroughly with warm water and soup after playing or working outdoors.