What is the infective form of Echinococcus granulosus?

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 …

What is the type of hydatid cyst of Echinococcus granulosus?

Causal Agents. Human echinococcosis (hydatidosis, or hydatid disease) is caused by the larval stages of cestodes (tapeworms) of the genus Echinococcus. Echinococcus granulosus (sensu lato) causes cystic echinococcosis and is the form most frequently encountered.

What is the life cycle of Echinococcus granulosus?

Echinococcus granulosus is a cestode whose life cycle involves dogs and other canids, as definitive hosts for the intestinal tapeworm, as well as domestic and wild ungulates as intermediate hosts for the tissue-invading metacestode (larval) stage (Figure 281-1).

What disorder can be caused by Echinococcus granulosus?

Cystic echinocccosis (CE), also known as hydatid disease, is caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, a ~2–7 millimeter long tapeworm found in dogs (definitive host) and sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs (intermediate hosts).

Where is Echinococcus granulosus found in the body?

Signs and symptoms granulosus leads to the development of one or more hydatid cysts located most often in the liver and lungs, and less frequently in the bones, kidneys, spleen, muscles and central nervous system.

What do Echinococcus granulosus eat?

granulosus and the parasite (the adult stages) lives in their intestines, to herbivores (sheep, goats, camels, cows, buffaloes, horses, donkeys, pigs, rabbits, and humans), which are intermediate hosts of the parasite where the larvae (hydatid cyst) live [1]. E.

What are the different types of hydatid cyst?

Based on morphology the cyst can be classified into four different types 2:

  • type I: simple cyst with no internal architecture.
  • type II: cyst with daughter cyst(s) and matrix. type IIa: round daughter cysts at the periphery.
  • type III: calcified cyst (dead cyst)
  • type IV: complicated cyst, e.g. ruptured cyst.

How is Echinococcus granulosus transmitted?

The most common mode of transmission to humans is by the accidental consumption of soil, water, or food that has been contaminated by the fecal matter of an infected dog. Echinococcus eggs that have been deposited in soil can stay viable for up to a year.

How big is an Echinococcus granulosus definitive host?

Adults of E. vogeli reach up to 5.6 mm long, and E. oligarthrus up to 2.9 mm. Cysts are generally similar to those found in cystic echinocccosis but are multi-chambered. Echinococcus granulosus definitive hosts are wild and domestic canids. Natural intermediate hosts depend on genotype.

Which is the slow growing mass of echinococcosis?

In the patients who are infected with E. granulosus and therefore have cystic echinococcosis, the disease develops as a slow-growing mass in the body. These slow-growing masses, often called cysts, are also found in patients that are infected with alveolar and polycystic echinococcosis.

Where does Echinococcus granulosus migrate in the body?

Too few cases of E. oligarthrus have been reported for characterization of its clinical presentation. Echinococcus granulosus in tissue. Upon ingestion of eggs by the human host, the oncospheres migrate from the intestinal lumen to other body sites via circulation and develop into hydatid cysts.

Who are the intermediate hosts of echinococcosis?

Definitive hosts are normally carnivores such as dogs, while intermediate hosts are usually herbivores such as sheep and cattle. Humans function as accidental hosts, because they are usually a dead end for the parasitic infection cycle. An adult worm resides in the small intestine of a definitive host.