Baylisascaris procyonis is an intestinal nematode that is the causative agent of Baylisascariasis. Two life cycles are possible for this parasite. The migrating larvae tend the invade the central nervous system and eyes which can results in blindness, permanent neurological damage or even death. Symptoms are often mistaken for those of rabies. Infections with humans acting as accidental hosts are rare but do occur.
Children run a higher risk for infection than do adults.
Close contact between humans and raccoons is an important epidemological factor. Raccoons tend to defecate in the same area. That makes these places highly dangerous for infections since eggs last so long in the environment and are so difficult to kill. Pet raccoons are another way infection can be passed to humans and should be dewormed regularly for safety. Diagnosis of human infection is difficult and often involves the exclusion of other possible causes.