Echinococcus multilocularis

Echinococcus multilocularis
Echinococcus multilocularis isolated from a fox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Platyhelminthes
Class:	Cestoda
Order:	Cyclophyllidea
Family:	Taeniidae
Genus:	Echinococcus
Species:	Echinococcus multilocularis
Binomial name
Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863

Echinococcus multilocularis is a cyclophyllid tapeworm that, along with some other members of the Echinococcus genus (especially E. granulosus), produces the disease known as echinococcosis in certain terrestrial mammals, including wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, domestic dogs and humans. Unlike E. granulosus, E. multilocularis produces many small cysts (also referred to as locules) that spread throughout the internal organs of the infected animal. Ingestion of these cysts, usually by a canid eating an infected rodent, results in a heavy infestation of tapeworms.

People infected with E. multilocularis may be asymptomatic for many years. Following the asymptomatic period of this disease, common symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Jaundice is rare, but hepatomegaly is a common physical finding.

The life cycle of E. multilocularis involves a primary or definitive host and a secondary or intermediate host, each harboring different life stages of the parasite.

Foxes, coyotes, domestic dogs, and other canids are the definitive hosts for the adult stage of the parasite. Cats may also be involved. The head of the tapeworm attaches to the intestinal mucosa by hooks and suckers. It then produces hundreds of microscopic eggs, which are dispersed through the feces.

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