Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Baylisascaris infection Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Baylisascaris infection from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Primary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings

on Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings

Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings in the news

Blogs on Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings

Directions to Hospitals Treating Type page name here

Risk calculators and risk factors for Baylisascaris infection laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Baylisascaris infection is difficult to diagnose and often is made by ruling out other infections that cause similar symptoms.

Laboratory Findings

  • Results from complete blood count (CBC) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination would be consistent with parasitic infection, but tend to be nonspecific.
  • Examination of tissue biopsies can be extremely helpful if a section of larva is contained, but removing an appropriate piece of tissue where the larva is actually present can be problematic.
  • Ocular examinations revealing a migrating larva, larval tracks, or lesions consistent with a nematode larva are often the most significant clue to infection with Baylisascaris.
  • Serologic testing can be extremely helpful in suspected cases; however, tests are not routinely in use nor widely available.

Microscopy

Baylisascaris procyonis larvae
Unembryonated eggs of Baylisascaris procyonis
Unembryonated eggs of Baylisascaris procyonis

A: Unembryonated eggs of Baylisascaris procyonis. These eggs are thick-shelled and usually a little oval in shape. Size of these eggs is 80-85 microns by 65-70 microns. The eggs of B. procyonis have a similar morphological appearance as fertile eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides with size (A. lumbricoides eggs being 55 to 75 microns by 35 to 50 microns) as the most evident distinguishing characteristic. Unembryonated eggs of B. procyonis are passed only in the feces of raccoons and skunks (and sometimes other carnivorous animals) onto the soil, after which they further develop to the infective second stage larva in about 2 to 3 weeks. Humans become infected by accidentally ingesting infective eggs from soil, water, hands, food or other objects contaminated with raccoon or skunk feces. As in Toxocara infections, eggs are not a diagnostic finding since they are not excreted in human feces.