Canine schistosomiasis In North America: an underdiagnosed disease with an expanding distribution.

Heterobilharzia americana, a digenean trematode in the family Schistosomatidae, is the etiologic agent of canine schistosomiasis in the southeastern United States. A few cases of canine schistosomiasis have been reported in Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, and, recently, Kansas. The natural definitive host for the fluke is the raccoon; however, infections have been detected in nutrias, bobcats, mountain lions, opossums, white-tailed deer, swamp rabbits, armadillos, coyotes, red wolves, red wolf-coyote crosses, Brazilian tapirs, minks, and beavers.