The fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis causes human alveolar echinococcosis, commonly affecting the liver. However, in ∼1% of cases, systematic spread of the disease involves the brain as well. A patient had a 6-year history of liver and lung alveolar echinococcosis that was considered not suitable for surgery, and treatment with albendazole was introduced. After the appearance of neurolo...

Echinococcus multilocularis, the small fox tapeworm, has an extensive geographical range in the northern hemisphere where foxes and small rodents represent natural hosts. The larval stage of this parasite, alveolar echinococcosis (AE), is an emerging zoonosis of increasing importance. It is a serious human illness which is often misdiagnosed as hepatic cancer. If not identified at an early stag...

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection caused by tiny tapeworms of the genus Echinocococcus. Cystic Echinococcosis, also known as hydatid disease, is caused by Echinococcus granulosus and rarely by Echinococcus multilocularis. Although the worldwide incidence and prevalence of Echinococcosis dramatically decreased in the last decades, it remains a major public health issue in several countries,...

Full-length cDNA and genomic DNA encoding an 8-kDa subunit of antigen B from Echinococcus multilocularis (designated EmAgB8/1) were isolated from an E. multilocularis metacestode cDNA library and a protoscolex genomic DNA library, respectively. The open reading frame of the cDNA clone encodes a polypeptide comprising 85 amino acids with a 20-amino-acid NH(2)-terminal signal sequence, which was ...

OBJECTIVE This study is to clone and identify B- and T-cell combined epitopes from Em95 antigen. METHODS The B- and T-cell combined epitopes were predicted using bioinformatic software. Two DNA sequences of Em95-1 (which contained the coding region of one B- and T-cell combined epitope) and Em95-2 (which contained the coding regions of two B- and T-cell combined epitopes) were amplified by PC...

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of canine echinococcosis can be a challenge in surveillance studies because there is no perfect gold standard that can be used routinely. However, unknown test specificities and sensitivities can be overcome using latent-class analysis with appropriate data. METHODOLOGY We utilised a set of faecal and purge samples used previously to explore the epidemiology of canine...

Trichinellosis and cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are serious parasitic diseases transmissible between animals and humans. Moreover, alveolar echinococcosis is considered one of the most dangerous of human helminthoses. Roma communities are particularly numerous in Central and Eastern Europe. They are often concentrated in economically undeveloped regions and live in segregated localities w...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is the most widespread zoonosis worldwide. The objective of the present study was to compare diagnostic methods in the work-up of suspected cystic echinococcosis of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data from a total of 68 patients were compiled and analyzed. RESULTS A diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis was made in 36.8% of patients. Broken down acc...