Echinococcus /Echi·no·coc·cus/ (e-ki″no-kok´us) a genus of small tapeworms, including E. granulo´sus, usually parasitic in dogs and wolves, whose larvae (hydatids) may develop in mammals, forming hydatid tumors or cysts chiefly in the liver; and E. multilocula´ris, whose larvae form alveolar or multilocular cysts and whose adult forms usually parasitize the fox and wild rodents, although humans are sporadically infected.
echinococcus /echi·no·coc·cus/ pl. echinococ´ci an individual organism of the genus Echinococcus.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus [e-ki″no-kok´us]
echinococcus /echi·no·coc·cus/ pl. echinococ´ci an individual organism of the genus Echinococcus.
| Echinococcus n. A genus of parasitic tapeworms, the larvae of which, under certain conditions, infect humans, forming large hydatid cysts in the liver or lungs and causing serious or fatal disease. |
e·chi·no·coc·cus ( -k  n -k k s)n. pl. e·chi·no·coc·ci (-k ks, -kk) A tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus. |
Echinococcus
[ekī′nōkok′əs]
Etymology: Gk, echinos, prickly husk, kokkos, berry
a genus of small tapeworms that primarily infect canines. See also echinococcosis.
Echinococcus [e-ki″no-kok´us]
a genus of small tapeworms.
Echinococcus granulo´sus a species parasitic in dogs and wolves and occasionally in cats; its larvae may develop in nearly all mammals, forming hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. It reverses the usual process of development in human and animal hosts: the adult is found in the intestine of dogs, whereas the larva develops in the human intestine, penetrates the intestinal wall, and settles in various organs, most often the liver, where it forms a cyst (hydatid cyst) that grows slowly. Treatment is by surgical removal of the cyst. This type of worm infection is fortunately not common in the United States.
Echinococcus multilocula´ris a species whose adult forms usually parasitize the fox and wild rodents, although humans are sporadically infected. It resembles E. granulosus, but the larvae form alveolar or multilocular rather than unilocular cysts.
Echinococcus
a genus of small tapeworms of the family Taeniidae.
Echinococcus granulosus
a species parasitic in dogs and wolves and occasionally in cats; its larvae may develop in ungulates and macropods, forming hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs, kidneys and/or other organs.
Echinococcus multilocularis
a species whose adult stage usually parasitizes the fox, dog and cat. It resembles E. granulosus, but the larvae form alveolar or multilocular rather than unilocular cysts and occur principally in rodents but can infect humans.
Echinococcus oligarthus
occurs in wild cats with larval stages in rodents.
Echinococcus vogeli
occurs in domestic and wild dogs with intermediate stages in rodents and humans.
Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|