Liver Cestodes

Tapeworms have both intermediate and final hosts in their life cycle. Main expression in the UK are the encysted forms that utilise the liver and other organs in intermediate hosts.


Taenia hydatigena
Echinococcus granulosus
  • Hydatid Disease
  • final host
    • dog, fox, and other canids
  • intermediate host
    • sheep most commonly affected
    • ox and horses

NB: can also affect man - zoonosis

  • hydatids - the cyst form
    • develops from the ova
    • occur in the lung and liver
    • cysts are usually multiple
    • 5-10cm in diameter
    • contain a clear fluid with numerous scolices or "hydatid sand"
    • the small calcified lesions that are sometimes present in the liver of sheep may represent degenerate hydatid cysts
    • can be very prevalent in some geographical areas

Pages in category "Liver Cestodes"

The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total.