Helminths of Procyon lotor solutus from Cape Island, South Carolina

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Abstract
A total of 12 genera of helminths was recovered from 16 host animals including the following: Trematoda[long dash]3 species of microphallids, 3 species of heterophyids, 1 dicrocoeliid and 2 diplostomids; Nematoda[long dash]2 species of spiruroid and 1 specimen of a strongyloid; Acanthocephala[long dash]6 specimens of the common acanthocephalids of raccoon. All the parasites found utilize an intermediate host except for one specimen of Arthrocephalus lotoris. It is assumed that the action of sunlight, occasional high tides, salty soil, and dry habitat may have deleterious effects upon free-living stages of nematodes with direct life cycles. Presumably there is very little, if any, migration of raccoons to and from the mainland and essentially this is an example of island isolation.