Hydatid tapeworm
Definitive host: Carnivores such as dogs, wolves, foxes, dingos.
Intermediate host: Herbivore such as sheep, pigs, kangaroos.
Prevalence & Distribution: The tapeworm infection is seen in areas where there is extensive sheep farming like New Zealand, Europe, Australia, Russia.
Mode of infection: Adult tapeworms are present in the dogs and the dog's feces contain the eggs. These eggs when ingested by the sheep develop into the hydatid cyst. This cyst grows to the size of the football and breaks open releasing numerous tiny protoscolices (hydatid sand). Each has the capacity to grow into an adult tapeworm when the dog ingests it. Humans accidentally ingest the eggs from the dog feces. The hydatid cyst grows inside the tissue and starts replacing the tissue. The cyst gets lodged in the brain, liver, lungs and when ruptures cause a massive allergic reaction in man.
Symptoms: Usually cyst gets accumulated in different area of the body causing cysticercosis. Due to the presence of the adult tapewom common symptons like diarrhoea and fatigue are seen.Keywords: accumulation, cysticercosis, symptons.
