Echinococcus

Echinococcus spp.

Definition

• Parasitic disease caused by infection with the echinococcus tapeworm

Species

• Echinococcus granulosus (cystic echinococcosis)
• Echinococcus multilocaris (alveolar echinococcosis)
• Echinococcus canadensis

Risk Factors

• Exposure to sheep
• Exposure to dogs fed home-slaughtered animals

Clinical Presentation

• Hydatid cysts with surrounding daughter cysts
  • Liver most common
  • Lung second-most common

Alveolar echinococcosis (E. multilocularis)

• Presents as a metastatic malignancy of unknown primary
• May also mimic hepatic carcinoma, cirrhosis, and tuberculosis
• Main treatment is surgical resection followed by at least 2 years of antihelminthic therapy
• Poor prognosis, with 90% 10-year mortality if untreated