The prevalence of filariae in wild raccoons trapped in southeast Georgia was determined. Examination of blood samples revealed that 74 of 113 raccoons (66%) trapped in 6 southeastern Georgia counties were infected. Seventy-three of these raccoons (65%) were infected with Mansonella llewellyni and this parasite was observed in raccoons from every location examined. Dirofilaria tenuis was found in 22 raccoons (20%) and was observed in only 3 of the 6 counties surveyed. An adult specimen of Acanthocheilonema procyonis was found in the subcutaneous tissues of 1 of 5 necropsied raccoons. This is the first record of filariae in raccoons from Georgia. In addition, Dirofilaria-like larvae were found in Aedes taeniorhyncus mosquitoes collected in Liberty County.

Digestive tract helminths of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) were examined for site specificity and interspecific interactions. Thirty opossums were live-trapped at 2 localities in Georgia, killed, and their digestive tracts removed and divided into the following sections; esophagus, stomach, small intestine (20 equal sections), cecum, and large intestine (5 equal sections). Helminths present in each section were identified and counted. Three trematode, 1 cestode, 2 acanthocephala, and 6 nematode species were found. Two parasites (the acanthocephalan Centrorhynchus spinosus and the nematode Viannaia hamata) are new state records for Georgia and this is the first report of C. spinosus from an opossum. There was considerable overlap between the spatial distributions of many of the helminth species found in the small intestine though most species had different modal locations. Helminth species locations were unaffected by host sex or trapping locality. There was no evidence that the presence, absence, or intensity of any helminth species affected the location or intensity of other helminth species in the digestive tract.

The phylum Acanthocephala is comprised of more than 1000 species of pseudoceolomic helminths, which, as adults, occur exclusively in the vertebrate small intestine. The most commonly parasitised definitive hosts are bony fishes, followed by birds, mammals and rarely amphibians and reptiles. Acanthocephalans are characterised by the possession of a head called a proboscis bearing hooks and spines that enable them to attach to the intestinal wall of their definitive host. Acanthocephalans are dioecious and exhibit sexual dimorphism. As an adaptation to parasitism, acanthocephalans have secondarily lost their digestive system and acquire their nutrients by direct absorption across the body wall. Acanthocephalans are primarily osmoconformers, and respiration and excretion occur primarily by diffusion across the body wall. All acanthocephalans exhibit an indirect life cycle utilising an arthropod intermediate host. Despite their sometimes large size, acanthocephalans cause relatively little pathology. Although very rare, human infection does occur. Molecular evidence suggests that Acanthocephalans are phylogenetically most closely aligned with the rotifers. Key Concepts: As adults, acanthocephalans are parasites of vertebrates. Acanthocephalans have secondarily lost their digestive system as an adaptation to parasitism. Acanthocephalans are closely related to the rotifers. Approximately 1200 species of acanthocephalans have been described. Acanthocephalans get their name from the spiny head called a proboscis.