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Echinococcus multilocularis (view source)
Revision as of 11:44, 22 December 2008
, 11:44, 22 December 2008no edit summary
== Hydatid Disease (''Echinococcus granulosus'') ==
== Hydatid Disease (''Echinococcus granulosus'') ==
[[Image:Echinococcus granulosus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Echinococcus granulosus scolex - Wikimedia Commons]]
[[Image:Echinococcus granulosus.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Echinococcus granulosus scolex - Wikimedia Commons]]
[[Image:E.granulosus life cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|E. granulosus life cycle - Wikimedia Commons]]
''Echinococcus granulosus'' is an important zoonosis as its metacestode, the hydatid cyst, can develop in humans, as well as in many other animals. The hydatid cyst can grow to the size of a ping-pong ball in sheep, a tennis ball in horses, and a football in man. The metacestode of the related ''Echinococcus multilocularis'' (the alveolar cyst) is even more dangerous, but fortunately does not occur in the UK.
''Echinococcus granulosus'' is an important zoonosis as its metacestode, the hydatid cyst, can develop in humans, as well as in many other animals. The hydatid cyst can grow to the size of a ping-pong ball in sheep, a tennis ball in horses, and a football in man. The metacestode of the related ''Echinococcus multilocularis'' (the alveolar cyst) is even more dangerous, but fortunately does not occur in the UK.