Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, is being progressively
recognized for its zoonotic and public health importance. Fine-scale genetics analyses
of this species have been delayed due to a lack of appropriate genetic marker. Finally
eight novel polymorphic microsatellites for B. procyonis have been developed, and
used these markers to exemplify microgeographic structuring of this parasite in
western Michigan. Results have revealed significant levels of genetic
differentiation amongst the 74 worms collected from 10 different raccoons. Grand
River can be a major dispersal barrier for B. procyonis because raccoons are
most likely to disperse across the river when it is frozen, and worm burden in
raccoons approaches zero during the winter.
Click here to view the journal: Clinical and Experimental Genetics
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