Baylisscaris共有10种,类虫线虫的一个属,发生在世界范围内,其中6个发生在新世界。大多数Baylisascis物种具有相似的生命周期,食肉哺乳动物或有袋动物作为最终宿主,而较小的猎物宿主作为副属(或中间)宿主。然而,啮齿动物中的一个物种是独一无二的,因为它只有一个宿主。已经对B.procyonis进行了大量研究,浣熊蛔虫,因为它是人类和许多野生动物物种严重到致命的神经系统疾病的众所周知的原因。然而,其他Baylisscaris物种可能导致幼虫迁徙,但相比之下,对它们的研究有限。除了与幼虫迁徙对潜在的paratenic宿主的潜在影响有关的担忧之外,关于地理范围有很多问题,确定和paratenic宿主多样性,以及这些非浣熊Baylisscaris物种的一般生态学。这里,我们提供了对新世界Baylisscaris物种的当前知识的全面回顾,包括B.columnaris的臭鼬,B.transfuga和B.委内瑞拉熊,B.B.古洛尼德生物的发展,B.melisof,和B.kinkajou的海床。讨论了关于形态学的已知情况,主机范围,地理分布,生态流行病学,确定性和paratenic宿主中的感染动力学,治疗,控制这些未被研究的物种。此外,我们讨论了目前用于研究这组寄生虫的分子工具。由于同胞Baylisscaris物种的幼虫阶段之间的形态相似性,这些分子工具应该提供对这些知之甚少的领域的关键见解,尤其是paratenic和确定性宿主的多样性以及这些寄生虫对前者健康构成的可能风险。这个,与传统的实验性感染配对,形态学分析,和实地调查将使人们对这个有趣而重要的线虫属有更多的了解。
A total of 10 species of
Baylisascaris, a genus of ascaridoid nematodes, occur worldwide and 6 of them occur in the New World. Most of the
Baylisascaris species have a similar life cycle with carnivorous mammals or marsupials serving as definitive hosts and a smaller prey host serving as paratenic (or intermediate) hosts. However, one species in rodents is unique in that it only has one host. Considerable research has been conducted on B. procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, as it is a well-known cause of severe to fatal neurologic disease in humans and many wildlife species. However, other
Baylisascaris species could cause larva migrans but research on them is limited in comparison. In addition to concerns related to the potential impacts of larva migrans on potential paratenic hosts, there are many questions about the geographic ranges, definitive and paratenic host diversity, and general ecology of these non-raccoon Baylisascaris species. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge of New World
Baylisascaris species, including B. columnaris of skunks, B. transfuga and B. venezuelensis of bears, B. laevis of sciurids, B. devosi of gulonids, B. melis of badgers, and B. potosis of kinkajou. Discussed are what is known regarding the morphology, host range, geographic distribution, ecoepidemiology, infection dynamics in definitive and paratenic hosts, treatment, and control of these under-studied species. Also, we discuss the currently used molecular tools used to investigate this group of parasites. Because of morphologic similarities among larval stages of sympatric
Baylisascaris species, these molecular tools should provide critical insight into these poorly-understood areas, especially paratenic and definitive host diversity and the possible risk these parasites pose to the health to the former group. This, paired with traditional experimental infections, morphological analysis, and field surveys will lead to a greater understanding of this interesting and important nematode genus.