16. Alveococcosis (echinococcus multilocularis) Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is the causative agent of alveococcosis?
Echinococcus multilocularis
Alveolar echinococcosis is primarily found in the Northern hemisphere, including central Asia, North Russia, Japan, and parts of North America.
What are the definitive hosts (FH) for Echinococcus multilocularis?
Fox, wolf, dog, cat
These animals are the primary hosts that harbor the adult form of the parasite.
What are the intermediate hosts (IH) for Echinococcus multilocularis?
Rodents, small insect-eating mammals, man
Humans can act as accidental intermediate hosts.
Describe the life cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis.
Gravid proglottids release eggs in feces, which are immediately infectious. Intermediate hosts ingest eggs, which hatch in the small intestine, releasing a six-hooked oncosphere that penetrates the intestinal wall and migrates to organs, especially the liver, where it develops into an alveolar cyst.
The definitive host gets infected by ingesting cyst-containing organs from the intermediate host.
What happens after the protoscolices are ingested by the definitive host?
Protoscolices evaginate and attach to the intestinal mucosa, developing into adults in 32-80 days.
This process completes the life cycle of the parasite.
What is the role of humans in the life cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis?
Humans are accidental IH and become infected by ingesting eggs, leading to the development of alveolar cysts in the liver.
This can lead to metastasis to other organs such as lungs, brain, heart, and bone.
What are the clinical signs of alveococcosis?
Abdominal pain, biliary obstruction, occasionally metastatic lesions in lungs and brain
Symptoms can be severe and may mimic other health issues.
What treatments are available for alveococcosis?
Praziquantel, surgical removal
Treatment effectiveness can vary based on the stage of the disease.
What control measures can be taken to prevent Echinococcus multilocularis infection?
Prevention by Praziquantel for dogs, vaccination, health education
These measures aim to reduce transmission risk, especially in areas where the parasite is endemic.
What diagnostic techniques are used for alveococcosis?
Post-mortem findings (Intestinal Scraping Technique), SCT (Sedimentation and Counting Technique)
These techniques help detect the presence of the parasite in hosts.
True or False: Echinococcus multilocularis can cause metastasis to organs outside the liver.
True
If protoscolices are released from cysts, they can migrate and establish infections in other organs.
