Humans can be exposed to these
eggs by “hand-to-mouth” transfer or contamination
. By ingesting food, water or soil contaminated with stool from infected dogs. This might include grass, herbs, greens, or berries gathered from fields. By petting or handling dogs infected with the Echinococcus granulosus
Where is echinococcosis commonly found?
CE is found in
Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, and in rare cases, North America
. The parasite is transmitted to dogs when they ingest the organs of other animals that contain hydatid cysts.
How do animals get Echinococcus?
How can my animal get echinococcosis?
Intestinal infection occurs when an animal ingests tapeworm cysts in the tissues of an intermediate host
. Intermediate hosts become infected after ingesting Echinococcus eggs passed in the feces of the definitive hosts.
How do cats get Echinococcus?
Cats can become infected with echinococcosis
by eating an infected rodent
(e.g., mice and squirrels), although infection is more common in dogs.
What causes Echinococcus?
Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused
by infection with tiny tapeworms
of the genus Echinocococcus. Echinococcosis is classified as either cystic echinococcosis or alveolar echinococcosis.
How long can you have Echinococcus?
What are the symptoms of echinococcosis? Echinococcosis may not produce any symptoms for
10 or 20 years
because the cysts grow slowly. A person with echinococcosis might have pain in the stomach, weakness, or weight loss because of the cysts.
Why is Echinococcus so harmful to humans?
Although cases of AE in animals in endemic areas are relatively common, human cases are rare.
AE poses a much greater health threat to people than CE
, causing parasitic tumors that can form in the liver, lungs, brain, and other organs. If left untreated, AE can be fatal.
How can I tell if I have a parasite?
- Stomach cramps and pain.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Dehydration.
- Weight loss.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Digestive problems including unexplained constipation, diarrhoea or persistent gas.
- Skin issues such as rashes, eczema, hives, and itching.
- Continuous muscle and joint pain.
How do you prevent Echinococcus?
- Prevent dogs from feeding on the carcasses of infected sheep.
- Control stray dog populations.
- Restrict home slaughter of sheep and other livestock.
How do you test for Echinococcus?
Imaging techniques, such
as CT scans, ultrasonography, and MRIs
, are used to detect cysts. After a cyst has been detected, serologic tests may be used to confirm the diagnosis. Alveolar echinococcosis
Is there a vaccine for Echinococcus?
Dogs are pivotal in Echinococcus granulosus transmission to humans, and
dog vaccination
provides a very practical and cost-effective prevention strategy. We vaccinated dogs with soluble native proteins isolated from protoscoleces of E. granulosus and induced significant suppression of worm growth and egg production.
Can cats get Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm?
Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis) is a tapeworm that is
spread by infected coyotes
, foxes, and sometimes dogs and cats. People get this tapeworm by accidentally eating its eggs from unclean (contaminated) food, water, or hand to mouth contact. This can cause a disease called alveolar echinococcosis (AE).
Can Toxocara cause blindness in humans?
Toxocara damage in the eye is permanent and can result in blindness
. A case study published in 2008 supported the hypothesis that eosinophilic cellulitis may also be caused by infection with Toxocara.
Can Echinococcus be cured?
Chemotherapy, cyst puncture, and PAIR (percutaneous aspiration, injection of chemicals and reaspiration) have been used to replace surgery as effective treatments for cystic echinococcosis. However, surgery remains the most effective treatment to remove the cyst and can
lead to a complete cure
.
Should I worry about cysts on my liver?
Liver cysts are uncommon and rarely cause symptoms. However, if they become large, they can sometimes cause pain and swelling in the abdomen, plus other symptoms. If a liver cyst is causing problems, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove the cyst.
How is Echinococcus multilocularis treated?
How is echinococcosis treated? E. multilocularis is treated with
praziquantel
, the same medication that is used to treat other tapeworm species. This medication can be given by mouth or as an injection.
