Capillaria procyonis (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) eggs from the tongue of the raccoon (Procyon lotor)

During an investigation to determine the prevalence and intensity of larvae of Trichinella spiralis in raccoons (Procyon lotor), unembryonated capillariid-type eggs were found routinely in the sediment resulting from 1% pepsin-HCl acid digests of the tongue. The sediment from 36 (90%) of the 40 tongue digests examined contained these capillariid-type eggs. Mean measurements of egg width and length were 25 +/- 2 microns and 62 +/- 2 microns, respectively. In addition, the surface of the egg shell had a pitted appearance. Adult parasites were not found in any of the tongue digests. The egg measurements and surface topography agree with what has been described previously and are tentatively identified as Capillaria procyonis. The detection of C. procyonis eggs in the present report indicates that this parasite inhabits the epithelial lining of the raccoon tongue, in addition to the esophagus, and that eggs expelled by females are deposited in the tracts these parasites create as they migrate.