Alveolar Hydatid Disease

Aka: Alveolar Hydatid Disease, Echinococcus Multilocularis, Alveolar Echinococcosis

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II. Epidemiology

  1. Endemic regions
    1. Central Europe
    2. Siberia
    3. North America
      1. North central United States and Canada
      2. Alaska (Eskimos)
  2. Definitive Host: Fox
  3. Intermediate host: Rodents. Humans

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Similar systemic infection and tissue cyst deposition as with Echinococcus Granulosus (Hydatid Disease)
  2. Echinococcus Multilocularis
    1. Flatworm in the Cestode class (Tapeworm)
    2. Caused by Tapeworm larvae ingestion
  3. Causes a highly malignant form of Echinococcosis
    1. Primary infection site is liver
    2. Spreads contiguously in metastatic form
    3. May ultimately result in death by hepatic insufficiency
    4. Lung or brain metastases may occur

IV. References

  1. Chrieki (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(5):817-20 [PubMed]

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