Echinococcosis
Echinococcosis (Cystic Echinococcosis, Alveolar Echinococcosis)
People can get a disease called echinococcosis from tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. This can happen by eating tiny eggs that come from the tapeworm. The tapeworms live inside the intestines of dogs, wild canids like foxes, coyotes, and wolves, and sometimes cats. The tapeworms shed eggs in the feces of these hosts, which can contaminate soil, water, and plants. The eggs can remain alive for up to a year. When animals like sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, small rodents, or humans eat the eggs, they become infected. The eggs then hatch into larvae inside their intestines. These larvae can move throughout the body and form cysts or tumors in different organs. The lifecycle of the tapeworm is complete when a definitive host eats an infected intermediate host.
General Information and Resources
Mailing Address
Department of State Health Services
Zoonosis Control Branch
PO BOX 149347 - Mail Code: 1956
Austin, TX 78714-9347
United States
Physical Address
Department of State Health Services
Zoonosis Control Branch
1100 W. 49th Street, Suite T-502
Austin, TX 78756-3199
United States