Fall 2018
Disease Communications
Parasites and Diseases of North American Furbearers
This document describes several
parasites and diseases that a
hunter may see on or in
furbearers harvested during the
hunting and trapping seasons. Use
this write-up as a guide to assist
you in identifying what is likely
present on or in harvested
furbearers when a question
arises. Tissues from animals can
be submitted to the Wildlife
Disease Laboratory for
examination.
SKIN
Sarcoptic Mange: Sarcoptic mange is
commonly seen in wolves, coyotes, red
foxes, and occasionally raccoons. It is
caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei),
which lives and burrows into the layers
of the skin. The mites cause an
irritation, resulting in the animal
scratching and biting the affected area
and spreading the mite on its body. Hair
loss, thickening and wrinkling of the
skin, and scab and crust formation on
the skin are the result of the
infestation. Feeding behavior may be
altered due to the intense irritation
resulting in malnutrition. In severe
Sarcoptic mange infestation on a raccoon.
cases, the animals can die due to
exposure from losing the insulating
layer that the hair provides. The mite
can live on humans for a period of time
causing severe irritation at the
exposure site. Mange-infested animals
should only be handled while wearing
gloves. Freezing the carcass will kill the
mites for safer handling.
SUBCUTANEOUS/MUSCLE
North American Guinea Worm:
(Dracunculus sp.): The North American
guinea worm has been identified in
raccoons, mink, red fox, river otter, fish-
er, and American marten in Michigan.
The worm is commonly found in the
subcutaneous space of the front and
rear legs, the thorax, abdomen, and
inguinal areas. These are a large nema-
tode and are easily seen by the trapper
and hunter when skinning the affected
animals.
Dracunculus sp. in the leg of a fisher.
HEART
Heartworm: Heartworm (Dirofilaria
immitis) has rarely been reported in
More Information:
Tom Cooley
Wildlife Biologist/Pathologist
Wildlife Disease Laboratory
4125 Beaumont Rd. Rm 250
Lansing, MI 48910
P: 517-336-5034
E: cooleyt2@michigan.gov
There are chapters in the Wildlife
Disease Manual on most of these
diseases and parasites. To read
more or to print a handout for the
public visit the website:
www.michigan.gov/wdm
wolves, coyotes, and red fox in Michi-
gan. The adult nematodes live in the
right side of the heart and are only
found if the trapper or hunter cuts open
the heart.
Heartworm in a coyote.
LIVER AND SPLEEN
Tularemia: Tularemia is a bacterial
infection caused by the bacterium Fran-
cisella tularensis. The aquatic form of
the disease has been diagnosed in bea-
ver and muskrats. Small white necrotic
foci (pimple-like in appearance) are
observed in the liver and spleen and a
pneumonia is often seen in affected
animals. Humans can contract the dis-
ease via contaminated blood or by in-
gesting insufficiently cooked infected
meat. Beavers or muskrats with liver
and spleen lesions consistent with tula-
remia should be collected and sub-
mitted to the Lab for examination.
INTESTINAL TRACT
Tyzzer’s Disease: Tyzzer’s disease,
caused by the bacterium Clostridium
piliforme, has been diagnosed in
muskrats in Michigan. The bacterium
causes extensive hemorrhaging in the
ceca and small tan necrotic foci in the
liver. This disease normally occurs when
muskrat populations are abundant.
HUMAN CONSUMPTION
We do not recommend eating any ani-
mal that acted sick prior to harvest. If
abnormal appearing internal or external
features are noticed on the animal
after harvest, most hunters find these
animals aesthetically displeasing and
choose not to consume them.

Raccoon Roundworm: The raccoon

roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), a
large nematode, occurs naturally in the
intestinal tract of raccoons and often in
large numbers. If the tract is cut or torn
the nematodes can migrate out of the
tract and be found lying free in the
abdominal cavity. These nematodes do
not cause any harm to the raccoon, but
eggs of the roundworm are shed in the
raccoon's fecal matter and can be
ingested and infect a number of
abnormal hosts including humans.

Raccoon roundworm in the intestinal tract

of a raccoon.