The aim of the study was to determinate the prevalence and intensity of infection of raccoon
dogs with internal parasites, with a particular emphasis on particular species of helminths known to
be dangerous to humans. A total of 96 raccoon dogs were obtained from hunters from September
2018 to October 2021. The digestive tract was taken for examination. The parasitological examination
was performed using the dissection methods. The extensity of infection with all internal parasites was
60.3%. The following parasites were found in the tested animals: Echinococcus multilocularis (in 10.42%
of animals), Toxocara canis (18.75%), Alaria alata (25.0%), Taenia spp. (19.79%), Uncinaria stenocephala
(27.08%), Mesocestoides spp. (54.17%) and Dipylidium caninum (6.25%). The highest mean intensity of
infection was demonstrated by A. alata and E. multilocularis then by Mesocestoides spp. This study
showed that the raccoon dog from northern Poland is a reservoir host of zoonotic pathogens, such
as E. multilocularis, Toxocara canis and Alaria alata. Although the role of the racoon dog as a final
host of the life cycle of E. multilocularis is considered of less importance than that of the red fox, this
species may increase the risk of echinococcosis in humans, mainly due to its growing population in
northern Poland.