The study conducted by researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre as part of the ZOWIAC project shows that the raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is finding optimal conditions for reproduction in Europe due to climate change and will continue to spread further. This poses a potential health risk to both humans and animals, as the parasite’s eggs can survive in urban areas with increasing raccoon populations and temperate European climates. The eggs are killed by extreme temperatures (below -15°C or above 60°C), but such conditions are rarely observed in Europe.
The roundworm primarily spreads through raccoon feces, which contain the infectious eggs. Humans and animals can become infected, leading to organ and neurological damage. Since raccoons have been spreading uncontrollably in Europe for 90 years, the researchers call for intensified monitoring and targeted measures to better control the spread of the parasite and the associated health risks.