Echinococcosis
Disease Name:-Echinococcosis
Species Affected: Canine, Ovine, Caprine, Bovine, Equine, and Human.
About the Disease:
Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by a Tapeworm found in dog named
Echinococcus spp. and its larval stage. Its hydatid cysts primarily affect members of the canidae
family. The disease also affects herbivorous animals and occasionally human. It is characterized
by formation of hydatid cysts in different internal organs by the larvae of this tapeworm. The
disease is also referred to as Hydatidosis/hydatid disease. Echinococcosis is an OIE
Reportable Disease in the multiple Species disease Category. Humans are accidental
intermediate hosts that become infected by handling soil, dirt or animal hair that contains eggs as
well as eating of raw improperly cooked infected meat. Echinococcosis is a cyclozoonosis that
requires two vertebrate hosts to complete the life cycle. The tapeworm spends most of its adult
life in the intestine of its definitive host, namely canids and in particular, the dog. The tapeworm
eggs become voided in the canids’ faeces and as a result of ingesting the eggs, infection passes to
the intermediate host, commonly herbivores while grazing.
Animals Affected:
Dogs, Sheep, Goat, Cattle and Horse are susceptible.
Cause:
Echinococcosis is caused by the larval stage (metacestode) of the dog tapeworm, mostly by
Echinococcocus granulosus and Echinococcocus multilocularis. It requires two mammalian
hosts to complete the life cycle. The adult echinococcus is considered to be rather harmless to the
definitive host, except when it occurs in large numbers.
Source of infection:
Contaminated soil, infected meat and meat and offal in slaughter houses and wild canines are
important sources of infection.
Symptoms:
Initially the disease is asymptomatic, gradually larger size and multiple numbers of cyst cause
hepatic insufficiency and pulmonary atelectasis, with signs of anorexia, dyspnoea and loss of
body weight. Hydatid cysts occur in organs like the liver, brain and lungs, not in subcutaneous
tissue. Sheep are more susceptible to this infection and the mortality is higher in them as
compared to other herbivorous animals. Circling movement and nervous symptoms may
exhibited by infected animals when brain tissues are involved by Hydatid cysts.
Control and Management:
Echinococcosis can be controlled through preventive measures that break the cycle between the
definitive and the intermediate host.
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Regular deworming of dogs for tapeworm by using anthelminthic drugs
Destruction of hydatids organs found in the slaughtered animals
Dogs should get no raw offal to eat.
Dog should be kept in proper kennel.
Avoid uncooked meat, fresh vegetables, fruit and water contaminated with eggs.
Avoid handling the infected pet dog especially by children.
Vaccines:
There is no vaccine for this disease.
Meteorological Occurrence:
The disease is worldwide in distribution. Moist, humid and warm climatic condition may favour
the prolong survival of the egg of the Tapeworm.
Prepared by:
Dr. Peter N
JRF, NADRS, Manipur.
Disease Investigatory Laboratory
Directorate of Veterinary, & A.H. Services,
Manipur