Echinococcus organisms taken from a hydatid cystEchinococcus life cycle (click to enlarge)
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Hydatidosis

Echinococcosis, also known as hydatid disease, is a potentially fatal parasitic disease that can affect many animals, including wildlife, commercial livestock and humans. more...

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Medicines

The Echinococcosis Cycle

The disease results from infection by tapeworm larvae of the genus Echinococcus - notably E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, and E. vogeli.

Like many parasite infections, the course of Echinococcus infection is complex. The worm has a life cycle that requires definitive hosts and intermediate hosts. Definitive hosts are normally carnivores such as dogs, while intermediate hosts are usually herbivores such as sheep and cattle. Humans also function as intermediate hosts, although they are usually a 'dead end' for the parasitic infection cycle.

The disease cycle begins with an adult tapeworm infecting the intestinal tract of the definitive host. The adult tapeworm then produces eggs which are expelled in the host's feces.

Intermediate hosts become infected by ingesting the eggs of the parasite. Inside the intermediate host, the eggs hatch and release tiny hooked embryos which travel in the bloodstream, eventually lodging in an organ such as the liver, lungs and/or kidneys. There, they develop into hydatid cysts. Inside these cysts grow thousands of tapeworm larvae, the next stage in the life cycle of the parasite. When the intermediate host is predated or scavenged by the definitive host, the larvae are eaten and develop into adult tapeworms, and the infection cycle restarts.

Disease Symptoms

As already noted, Echinococcus infection causes large cysts to develop in intermediate hosts. Disease symptoms arise as the cysts grow bigger and start eroding and/or putting pressure on blood vessels and organs. Large cysts can also cause shock if they happen to rupture.

Infection with E. granulosus typically results in the formation of cysts in the liver, lungs, kidney and spleen of the intermediate host. In a full-blown infection, cysts can be larger than a soccer ball. This condition is also known as cystic hydatid disease and can sometimes be successfully treated with surgery to remove the cysts.

Infection with E. multilocularis results in the formation of dense parasitic tumors in the liver, lungs, brain, and other organs. This condition, also called alveolar hydatid disease is more likely to be fatal.

Unlike intermediate hosts, definitive hosts are usually not hurt very much by the infection. Sometimes, a lack of certain vitamins and minerals can be caused in the host by the very high demand of the parasite.

Disease Prophylaxis

There are several strategies to prevent Echinococcosis, most of which involve disruption of the parasite's life cycle. For instance, feeding raw offal to work dogs is a key point of infection in a farm environment and is strongly discouraged. Also, basic hygiene practices such as thoroughly cooking food and vigorous hand washing before meals can prevent the eggs entering the human digestive tract.

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Stroke: a rare presentation of cardiac hydatidosis.(Short Report) : An article from: Neurology India $5.95 Hydatidosis: Veterinary Perspectives and Annotated Bibliography $78.41
Echinococcosis/Hydatidosi s Surveillance, Prevention and Control (Fao Animal Production and Health Paper) $16.74 Perspectives and Possibilities of Control and Eradication of Hydatidosis - Report of the PAHO/WHO Working Group $22.00
Echinococcosis (hydatidosis) and its control (NEAHI handbook) Review of programs for the control of hydatidosis/echinococcosi s up to 1974 (Serie de monografías cientificas y técnicas, C.P.Z)
Echinococcosis, hydatidosis: The problem and its control, case study, Cyprus

Using a custom mega prosthesis to treat hydatidosis of bone: A report of 3 cases
ABSTRACT Three cases of hydatidosis of bone with pathological fracture were treated by wide resection, custom mega prosthesis replacement, and chemotherapy.
15 Years In Surgical Management Of Pulmonary Hydatidosis - Abstract
Adel K Ayed, FCCP(*) and Rafat Shalaby. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait and Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical presentation,
Diagnostic accuracy of rapid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of human hydatidosis
Accepted June 10, 1999 Rapid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared with the standard ELISA and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) techniques ...
A healthy woman with right upper quadrant discomfort on deep palpation
A 37-year-old Greek woman presented to her physician's office for a routine physical examination. She did not complain of any symptoms or active medical ...
Reemergence of canine Echinococcus granulosus infection, Wales
As a consequence of large-scale outdoor slaughter of sheep during the 2001 foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the United Kingdom and the possibility ...
Antigenaemia and antibody response to Toxoplasma gondii in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients
ABSTRACT Toxoplasma encephalitis in immunocompromised patients results from reactivation of previously acquired (latent) infection. The aim of the study ...
ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL: EFFORTS TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONTROL PROGRAM IN SANTANA DO LIVRAMENTO, RIO GRANDE DO SUL
SUMMARY This investigation aimed to design a strategy for echinococcosis control in Santana do Livramento county, an endemic area in state of Rio Grande ...
Splenic Hydatid Cysts in a 20-Year-Old Soldier
Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection of humans and herbivorous animals caused by Echinococcus granulosus. A 20-year-old male soldier from Booshehr ...

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