Hydatid
Hydatid is a term used for a cyst produced by the larval stage of certain tapeworms in the genus Echinococcus, most commonly Echinococcus granulosus. The disease associated with these cysts is cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease); less commonly, alveolar echinococcosis is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. The parasite’s life cycle involves definitive hosts such as dogs or foxes that harbor adult tapeworms and shed eggs in their feces, and intermediate hosts such as sheep, cattle, or rodents, as well as humans, that ingest the eggs.
After ingestion, embryos hatch and migrate to organs where they develop into hydatid cysts. Cysts are typically
Diagnosis relies on imaging, with ultrasound commonly used and CT or MRI for extent assessment, alongside serology
Prevention focuses on interrupting transmission: regular deworming of dogs, safe slaughter practices, proper disposal of offal,