Raccoons and Herpes

Herpetic viruses can cause encephalitis. Encephalitis is a brain inflammation that produces flu-like symptoms in mild cases and fevers and seizures in severe ones. There are different herpetic viruses that can cause encephalitis and different ways raccoons can transfer encephalitis to humans.

Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the leading cause of encephalitis in more economically developed countries. There are two types of herpes simplex virus. One is HSV-1, which causes oral herpes. The other is HSV-2, which causes genital herpes. HSV-1 can also result in genital herpes but HSV-2 is the more common cause.

Of the two, HSV-1 is the primary instigator of adult-onset encephalitis. Infant encephalitis is usually caused by HSV-2 because the fluids from a mother's genital herpes can be transmitted to the child during the birth process.

Varicella-zoster Virus

Varicella-zoster is the virus behind chicken pox (varicella) and shingles (herpes zoster). Chicken pox is the initial onset. Once the symptoms subside, the virus stays in the body. Shingles is the result of the varicella-zoster virus reemerging from its dormancy, though not every person who had chicken pox will necessarily have shingles later on. The varicella-zoster virus can cause very serious cases of encephalitis but these are rare.

Epstein-Barr Virus

Epstein-Barr virus is the source of mononucleosis in children and young adults. Encephalitis caused by Epstein-Barr is usually mild and easily treated.

Raccoon Roundworm

Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a parasite that lives in the intestines of raccoons. It is harmless to raccoons but, if a human comes into contact with raccoon feces through tree bark, wood chips or soil, it can result in severe nervous-system disease, including encephalitis. Do not keep raccoons as pets and always make sure to keep garbage cans and bird feeders inaccessible to them.

Rabies

Encephalitis caused by rabies is rare but often fatal. Though raccoons can carry rabies, they are not often associated with this type of encephalitis. Bats are more often the common carrier.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

Raccoons can also carry ticks. Tick-borne encephalitis is more common in Europe and Asia. In North America, tick-borne encephalitis is usually spread through Lyme's disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

References

• UMMC: Viral encephalitis: Causes
• MedLinePlus: Encephalitis

Resources

• The Encephalitis Resource Centre
• NINDS: Meningitic and Encephalitis Information