Alveolar echinococcosis: preventing a serious zoonosis

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis (AV), also known as alveolar hydatid disease, is caused by the cestode parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis, and is a very serious zoonosis. Its definitive host is the red fox and intermediate hosts are arvicolid rodents, small mammals and, as aberrant hosts, humans. The pathological features in the intermediate host are related to parasitic growth and to immune response. The epidemiology of this disease is complex because of changing ecological requirements of this parasite and movement of definitive and intermediate hosts.