DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BAYLISASCARIS-PROCYONIS INFECTION IN AN INFANT WITH NONFATAL MENINGOENCEPHALITIS

Baylisascaris procyonis, the common raccoon ascarid, is known to cause life-threatening visceral, neural, and ocular larva migrans in mammal s and birds. Two human fatalities have been previously described; howe ver, little is known about the spectrum of human disease caused by B. procyonis. In this report, the case of a 13-month-old child who had no nfatal meningoencephalitis secondary to B. procyonis infection is pres ented. The suspected diagnosis was confirmed with use of newly develop ed enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot techniques. The diagnosis, manage ment, and prevention of B. procyonis infection in humans is discussed. Clinical, serological, and epidemiological evaluations established B. procyonis as the etiologic agent. The child survived his infection bu t continued to have severe neurological sequelae. The potential for hu man contact and infection with B. procyonis is great. There is no effe ctive therapy; therefore, prevention is paramount.