Helminth

Alveolar Hydatid Disease

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Alveolar Hydatid Disease, Echinococcus multilocularis, Alveolar Echinococcosis

  • See Also
  1. Hydatid Disease
  • Epidemiology
  1. Endemic regions
    1. Central Europe
    2. Siberia
    3. North America
      1. North central United States and Canada
      2. Alaska (Eskimos)
  2. Definitive Host: Fox
  3. Intermediate host: Rodents. Humans
  • Etiology
  1. Echinococcus multilocularis
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Caused by larvae of cestode Echinococcus multilocularis
  2. Causes a highly malignant form of Echinococcosis
    1. Primary infection site is liver
    2. Spreads contiguously in cancer like form
    3. Ultimately results in death by hepatic insufficiency
    4. Lung or brain metastases may occur
  • References
  1. Chrieki (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(5):817-20 [PubMed]