Dirofilaria immitis in a raccoon (Procyon lotor).
A single juvenile male raccoon (Procyon lotor) was found naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Two immature female worms were found in the heart of this raccoon at necropsy. Lesions attributable to the presence of these parasites were not found. Histopathologic examination of various tissues did not reveal any microfilariae. The raccoon may serve as an aberrant definitive host for this parasite, however, patent infections have not been reported.
Snyder
D E
DE
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Parasite Research Laboratory, Auburn, Alabama 36831.
Hamir
A N
AN
Hanlon
C A
CA
Rupprecht
C E
CE
D000818:Animals; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D011821:Raccoons / Q000469:parasitology*