A Survey of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Farmed Raccoons in Alborz Province, Iran

Introduction:Raccoons, the largest omnivorous mammals of the Procyonid family, are native to North America, where their original habitats are deciduous and mixed forests. They can carry and transmit various diseases, including rabies, canine distemper virus (CDV), and different types of parasitic infections. Common parasites include Baylisascaris procyonis, Toxocara canis, and protozoan parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Given the fact that raccoons present in Iran are the result of illegal introductions, limited data is available to compare local animal care protocols with global standards. This research was conducted to identify weaknesses in Iran’s animal care protocol and to evaluate the species’ effects within the One Health framework. Materials and Methods: A total of three fecal samples were collected in October ۲۰۲۵ from various parts of a fecal pile defecated by seven raccoons sharing one enclosure in Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran. The last antiparasitic treatment they had received was in ۲۰۲۳. One sample was firm with no odour, while the other two were soft with an unpleasant smell, raising suspicion of parasitic infection. The Willis flotation method with saturated Zinc chlorides (۱:۹) was used to detect helminth ova. Fecal smears were also prepared and stained using the Ziehl-Neelsen method to check for protozoan parasites. Results:The flotation preparations showed no helminth ova. However, the fecal smears tested positive for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, with an average intensity of approximately ۲+ (Fig. ۱). Discussion: In this study, Cryptosporidium infection was detected, indicating the presence of an infectious source within the raccoon housing environment. One potential source of contamination could be the water or bedding material in the enclosures, which may facilitate the transmission of this parasite through fecal-oral routes to other animals and potentially to humans. Studies on raccoons in Iran are extremely limited, making it difficult to compare data or improve housing and health management conditions. In this case, the existing protocol appears to have been effective in preventing helminth infections but failed to protect the animals from protozoan infections. This is particularly concerning given the zoonotic potential of protozoa such as Cryptosporidium. Conclusion: If all aspects of the existing animal care protocol had been properly implemented and monitored, full protection against both helminth and protozoan parasites might have been achieved. Given the zoonotic risks, improvements in monitoring and preventive measures are strongly recommended.

کلیدواژه ها:

cryptosporidium ، zoonotic infections ، flotation ، fecal samples ، omnivorous