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 |