Figures
- Fig. 1.—
a) Posteroanterior and b) lateral chest radiography showing well-defined rounded opacities in the right lung of a patient with unruptured cystic echinococcosis.
- Fig. 2.—
a) Posteroanterior and b) lateral chest radiography showing a hydropneumothorax in a patient with ruptured cystic hydatidosis with discharge of contents into the pleural space.
- Fig. 3.—
Computerised tomography scan of the lung showing a cystic mass measuring 3×5 cm in the right lower lobe of a patient with cystic hydatidosis.
Tables
- Table 1
Epidemiological features and host characteristics of Echinococcus
Geographical distribution Frequency and severity of human infection Definitive host Intermediate host E. granulosus Worldwide Majority of human infection caused by this strain, also the most pathogenic Primarily dogs, other canines Sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, camels E. multilocularis Northern Hemisphere (Central Europe, Russia, western China, northern Japan, North America, North Africa) Restricted animal hosts limit human infection but severe infections can occur Primarily foxes, wolves, dogs, coyotes, cats Rodents, deer, moose, reindeer, bison E. vogeli Central and South America Disease intermediate in severity between E. granulosus and E. multilocularis Wild canines (bush dogs) Rodents, pacas E. oligarthrus Central and South America Only few reported cases Wild felids (pumas, jaguars) Rodents, rabbits - Table 2
Cyst characteristics of the various Echinococcus species
Nature of larval form in humans Cyst components E. granulosus Cystic, unilocular, expansile Metacestode has endocyst (internal germinal layer), exocyst (parasite-derived acellular laminated layer) and pericyst (host-derived adventitial layer) E. multilocularis Multilocular, infiltrative Very thin laminated layer only and no pericyst, which enables tissue invasion E. vogeli E. oligarthrus Polycystic, expansile Large cysts with multiple vesicles are separated by septa lined with germinal epithelium; externally, cyst is surrounded by fibrous tissue - Table 3
Drugs used in the treatment of echinococcosis
Oral dosage Duration Maximum dose Mebendazole 40–50 mg·kg body weight−1·day−1 three times daily 3–6 months for E. granulosus 6 g·day−1 Albendazole# 10–15 mg·kg body weight−1·day−1 twice daily 3–6 months for E. granulosus and prolonged or lifelong for E. multilocularis Usually 800 mg·day−1 Praziquantel¶ 40 mg·kg body weight−1 once weekly Uncertain NA -
E.: Echinococcus
-
NA: not available
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#: preferred because it exhibits better bioavailability than mebendazole
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¶: can combine with albendazole
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