Wildlife Baiting is Associated with an Increased Parasite Intensity in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Mississippi, USA

Gastrointestinal tracts were obtained from 120 raccoons (Procyon lotor) on properties in the state of Mississippi, US, with and without wildlife baiting to observe the effects of baiting on parasite prevalence and intensity. Raccoons from baited properties had higher prevalence of Gnathostoma procyonis and higher intensities of Physaloptera rara and Macracanthorhynchus ingens, which can cross species barriers.