Filariae of raccoons from southeast Georgia

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 82; no. 5; pp. 849 - 851
• Main Authors: Pung, O.J, Davis, P.H, Richardson, D.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1996
• Subjects: Acanthocheilonema; acanthocheilonema procyonis; Aedes - parasitology; Aedes taeniorhynchus; Animals; Dipetalonema - isolation & purification; Dipetalonema Infections - epidemiology; Dipetalonema Infections - parasitology; Dipetalonema Infections - veterinary; Dirofilaria; Dirofilaria - isolation & purification; dirofilaria tenuis; Dirofilariasis - epidemiology; Dirofilariasis - parasitology; disease vectors; epidemiology; Female; filariasis; Georgia - epidemiology; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Male; Mansonella; Mansonella - isolation & purification; mansonella llewellyni; Mansonelliasis - epidemiology; Mansonelliasis - parasitology; Mansonelliasis - veterinary; microfilariae; Microfilariae - isolation & purification; Parasitemia - epidemiology; Parasitemia - parasitology; Parasitemia - veterinary; Prevalence; Procyon lotor; Raccoons - parasitology; Skin - parasitology; zoonoses; Georgia
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.2307/3283907

The prevalence of filariae in wild raccoons trapped in southeast Georgia was determined. Examination of blood samples revealed that 74 of 113 raccoons (66%) trapped in 6 southeastern Georgia counties were infected. Seventy-three of these raccoons (65%) were infected with Mansonella llewellyni and this parasite was observed in raccoons from every location examined. Dirofilaria tenuis was found in 22 raccoons (20%) and was observed in only 3 of the 6 counties surveyed. An adult specimen of Acanthocheilonema procyonis was found in the subcutaneous tissues of 1 of 5 necropsied raccoons. This is the first record of filariae in raccoons from Georgia. In addition, Dirofilaria-like larvae were found in Aedes taeniorhyncus mosquitoes collected in Liberty County.