Open AccessBaylisascaris Procyonis Induced Diffuse Unilateral Subacute Neuroretinitis in New York City
Author(s) -
Norman Saffra,
Jason E. Perlman,
Rajen U. Desai,
Kevin R. Kazacos,
Christina Coyle,
Fabiana Machado,
Sanjay Kedhar,
Michael Engelbert,
Herbert B. Tanowitz
Publication year - 2010
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2090-2352
DOI - 10.4303/jnp/n100401
Subject(s) - etiology , extant taxon , cutaneous larva migrans , medicine , larva migrans , pathology , helminthiasis , biology , evolutionary biology
Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) secondary to raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) infection has been reported in rural and suburban areas of North America and Europe with extant raccoon populations. Here, we present a case of Baylisascaris-induced DUSN from the densely populated borough of Brooklyn in New York City and alert urban ophthalmologists to consider this etiology even in areas not typically thought to be associated with endemic risk factors. Infected raccoons also occur in urban settings, and urban patients may be exposed in surrounding areas. Most patients with Baylisascaris ocular larva migrans-DUSN will not have concomitant neurologic disease; this fact and larval neurotropism are both misconceptions regarding this infection.