Echinococcosis (dog tapeworm infection)

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Echinococcosis is caused by the dog tapeworms Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. In people, the tapeworms can cause fluid-filled cysts or masses to form in the liver or other organs.

People are usually infected when they accidentally consume soil, water, or food that has been contaminated by Echinococcus eggs passed in dog stool.
Cysts form in the liver, lungs, or another organ and cause various symptoms, including pain.
Doctors do imaging tests (such as ultrasonography or computed tomography) to check for cysts, blood tests to check for antibodies to the tapeworm, and analysis of fluid from the cyst to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment usually involves removing cysts or draining them, injecting a salt solution to kill the parasite and then removing it, and giving the drug albendazole .

(See also Overview of Parasitic Infections and Tapeworm Infection.)
Adult tapeworm species called Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis live in the intestine of dogs or other canines (such as foxes or coyotes). These tapeworms sometimes infect people, causing cysts in the liver or other organs.
Echinococcus granulosus is common in the sheep-raising areas of the Mediterranean, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America. It also occurs rarely in some parts of North America.
Echinococcus multilocularis occurs mainly in Central Europe, Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. It also occurs rarely in Wyoming, the Dakotas, and the upper Midwest.