HEALTH SURVEY OF FREE-RANGING RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR) IN CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA: IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN AND DOMESTIC ANIMAL HEALTH

Key Takeaways:

• Health assessments conducted on 113 free-ranging raccoons in Central Park, NY in conjunction with a trap-vaccinate-release program

• Given the high raccoon, domestic animal, and human density in Central Park, there is potential for interspecies transmission of disease

• These results indicate the presence of several significant pathogens for which raccoons may play an ecologic role, including Rabies virus, B. procyonis, T. gondii, Salmonella, C. jejuni, and possibly parvoviruses

Summary of Findings:

• Euthanized raccoons tested for rabies and canine distemper virus (CDV), respectively- all were negative for both

• Endoparasitism was the most common necropsy finding, with identification of Baylisascaris procyonis in 75% necropsied raccoons

• Median blood lead level was 7.3 ug/dL

• Rabies virus neutralizing antibody titer was greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/mL in 10% unvaccinated and in 65% previously vaccinated raccoons

• The majority were seropositive for canine parvovirus-2 (92%) and Toxoplasma gondii (65%).

• Fewer were seropositive for Rickettsia rickettsii (10%).

• None seropositive for CDV, canine adenovirus-1, or Borrelia burgdorferi.

• Ectoparasites found during 16 of 118 (13.6%) included Ixodes texanus ticks (15/118, 12.7%) and Trichodectes octomaculatus lice (1/118, 0.8%).

• Campylobacter jejuni detected in 6% fecal samples

• Detected Salmonella enterica serotypes in 63.1% enteric cultures