Baylisascaris sp. infection in a pet kinkajou Potos flavus

The nematodes of genus Baylisascaris are common intestinal roundworms of carnivores such as raccoons, skunks, badgers, martens and bears. This report describes Baylisascaris sp. infection in a pet kinkajou Potos flavus imported into Japan from Guyana. Nematode eggs were detected in feces of the juvenile kinkajou in 2011 during a routine veterinary examination. A sequence analysis of the ITS2 nuclear target clustered the examined isolate with B. procyonis and B. columnaris, with 7.8 — 8.8 % base differences from these taxa. Eleven tandem G-A repeats identified in the polymorphic repetitive region further differentiate the kinkajou’s roundworm from recognized Baylisascaris species. This classified the studied isolate as referring to Baylisascaris sp., with its precise species delineation remaining to be determined. Given that the Baylisascaris sp. from the kinkajou is genetically closely affiliated with B. procyonis having a serious disease-producing capacity, the report appeals for precautions in informing people to avoid transmission risk.