What is sylvatic echinococcosis?

What is sylvatic echinococcosis?

Echinococcus granulosus is a zoonotic cestode (family Taeniidae) of worldwide distribution. 1. In Canada, the G8 and G10 forms (cervid strains) are endemic and cycle between wild cervids, primarily moose (Alces alces), and wild carnivores, primarily wolves (Canis lupis).

What is the infective stage of Echinococcus multilocularis?

The encysted larval (metacestode) stage is known as a bladder-worm or hydatid, and it produces multiple infective stages (protoscoleces, apparent as invaginated scolices already containing suckers and hooks) either directly from the germinal layer of the cyst wall, or by forming brood sacs (hydatid sand) by endogenous …

How does infection with Echinococcus granulosus occur?

Direct contact with infected dogs, particularly intimate contact between children and their pet dogs, may lead to human infection. Ingestion of soil, water and vegetables contaminated with infected dog feces may also lead to infections. Echinococcus granulosus eggs can survive snow and freezing conditions.

How are humans infected with Echinococcus?

Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or soil, or after direct contact with animal hosts. Echinococcosis is often expensive and complicated to treat and may require extensive surgery and/or prolonged drug therapy.

What is the difference between Echinococcus granulosus and multilocularis?

Echinococcus granulosus (s.l.) is known to be endemic in all continents, while E. multilocularis has a more restricted distribution, generally regarded a parasite limited to the northern hemisphere [2].

What kills Echinococcus multilocularis?

multilocularis infection can be treated effectively with anthelmintic drugs. Praziquantel is effective against both juvenile and adult parasites, and is the only treatment currently approved in Canada. Note: Dogs with alveolar echinococcosis alone do not present a risk to human health.

What is the the treatment of Echinococcus granulosus disease?

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.

What is zoonotic aspect of Echinococcus granulosus?

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) caused by the larval stage (hydatid cyst) of tapeworms. Eggs are excreted in the faeces of infected dogs and foxes and can be ingested by humans either by close contact with these animals or through contaminated food.

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.

Is Echinococcus granulosus zoonotic?

What is the vector for Echinococcus granulosus?

While there are no biological or mechanical vectors for the adult or larval form of any Echinococcus species, coprophagic flies, carrion birds and arthropods can act as mechanical vectors for the eggs.

How do you get alveolar echinococcosis?

By directly ingesting food items contaminated with stool from foxes or coyotes. This might include grass, herbs, greens, or berries gathered from fields. By petting or handling household dogs or cats infected with the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.

How does Echinococcus multilocularis affect the liver?

Echinococcus multilocularis affects the liver as a slow growing, destructive tumor, often with abdominal pain and biliary obstruction being the only manifestations evident in early infection. This may be misdiagnosed as liver cancer. Rarely, metastatic lesions into the lungs, spleen, and brain occur.

Are alveolar and cystic echinococcosis emerging in North America?

Alveolar and cystic echinococcosis are emerging and reemerging in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The expansion of Echinococcus spp. tapeworms in wildlife host reservoirs appears to be driving this emergence in some areas. Recent studies suggest a similar phenomenon may be occurring in North America.

Is there Echinococcus spp research in the United States?

We describe the context of Echinococcus spp. research in North America, with a specific focus on the contiguous United States. Although studies were conducted in the United States throughout the 1900s on various sylvatic and domestic Echinococcus spp. tapeworm cycles, data are lacking for the past ≈30 years.

How long do Echinococcus granulosus infections remain asymptomatic?

Echinococcus granulosus infections often remain asymptomatic for years before the cysts grow large enough to cause symptoms in the affected organs. The rate at which symptoms appear typically depends on the location of the cyst.