Human echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. It occurs in two main forms in humans: cystic echinococcosis (also known as hydatidosis) and alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworms Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis, respectively.

A number of herbivorous and omnivorous animals act as intermediate hosts of Echinococcus by ingesting parasite eggs in contaminated soil and developing parasitic larval stages in their viscera. Carnivores (including dogs and foxes) are definitive hosts of the parasite; they are infected through the consumption of viscera of intermediate hosts that harbour the parasite and also through scavenging infected carcases. Humans are accidental intermediate hosts and are unable to transmit the disease.

If the eggs are ingested by humans, they develop into larvae in several organs, mainly the liver and lungs. Both cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are characterized by asymptomatic incubation periods that can last many years until the parasite larvae evolve and trigger clinical signs.

Both diseases can cause serious morbidity and death.

Human echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. It occurs in two main forms in humans: cystic echinococcosis (also known as hydatidosis) and alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworms Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis, respectively.

A number of herbivorous and omnivorous animals act as intermediate hosts of Echinococcus by ingesting parasite eggs in contaminated soil and developing parasitic larval stages in their viscera. Carnivores (including dogs and foxes) are definitive hosts of the parasite; they are infected through the consumption of viscera of intermediate hosts that harbour the parasite and also through scavenging infected carcases. Humans are accidental intermediate hosts and are unable to transmit the disease.

If the eggs are ingested by humans, they develop into larvae in several organs, mainly the liver and lungs. Both cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are characterized by asymptomatic incubation periods that can last many years until the parasite larvae evolve and trigger clinical signs.

Both diseases can cause serious morbidity and death.