Echinococcosis Hydatid Disease

What is echinococcosis and show a range of symptoms depending Who should I contact, if I what causes it? on the severity of infection. There may suspect echinococcosis? Echinococcosis (EE-kI-no-kah-KOH- be no sign of infection or non-specific In Animals – sis) is a parasitic disease that can affect clues such as nausea, vomiting, Contact your veterinarian. animals and humans and is caused intermittent diarrhea, and weight loss. In Humans – by several species of tiny tapeworms The parasites can also cause fluid or Contact your physician. called Echinococcus (EE-kI-no-kah- masses in the abdomen, enlargement How can I protect my animal KUS). The parasites can be found of the liver and abdomen, and worldwide. Only two species have difficulty with breathing. from echinococcosis? To prevent infection in dogs and been reported to occur in the United Can I get echinococcosis? States, primarily in the western states cats, do not feed or allow dogs or Yes. Humans can be infected by and most commonly in rural sheep- cats to eat infected intermediate accidentally ingesting (oral) the eggs raising areas. hosts, particularly the internal organs. of the tapeworms after eating foods Regular examination and treatment What animals get (e.g., unwashed fruits or vegetables) of dogs that are routinely exposed echinococcosis? contaminated by the feces of infected to livestock (e.g. sheep dogs) can Echinococcus tapeworms have a carnivores or by handling dogs or cats decrease echinococcosis in these complex life cycle which involves both infected with the tapeworms. domestic animals. a definitive host (species necessary In humans, signs of disease can How can I protect myself for the life cycle of the worm) and an take months to years to appear. intermediate host. Carnivores, such as Infection involves the development from echinococcosis? foxes, coyotes, wolves, dogs, and cats, of cysts (tumor-like lesions) caused Avoid contact with wild canines, are definitive hosts. Intermediate hosts by the growth of the immature such as foxes, coyotes, unless you include a large number of domestic (larval) tapeworms. Cysts can vary are wearing gloves. Do not keep wild and wild animals such as sheep, cattle, in size and location in the body; they animals as pets; keep wild animals pigs, horses, and reindeer. most commonly involve the liver but away from your home and out of can spread to other organs. Signs of gardens. Wash all fruits or vegetables How can my animal get disease can include abdominal pain or thoroughly before eating them, echinococcosis? discomfort, weakness, and weight loss. particularly those picked in the wild or Intestinal infection occurs when directly off the ground. Always wash an animal ingests tapeworm cysts your hands with warm water and in the tissues of an intermediate host. soap after handling pets. Intermediate hosts become infected For More Information after ingesting Echinococcus eggs passed in the feces of the definitive CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Echinococcosis hosts. The eggs can survive for several at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ Echinococcosis DiseaseInfo/ months in the environment (e.g., is caused by CDC website. Echinococcosis at http://www. pastures, gardens) especially in warm, a parasitic tapeworm, moist conditions. cdc.gov/parasites/echinococcosis/ that develops in cysts How does echinococcosis within the body affect my animal? of infected species. Infected carnivores (e.g., dogs, Left: Adult Echinococcus worm from S.J. Uptown, Kansas State University; Right: Hydatid cysts in cats) usually show no signs of disease. a horse liver from the University of Pennsylvania Intermediate hosts (e.g., livestock) can School of Veterinary Medicine

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