Эхинококк многокамерный: описание, цикл развития и диагностика альвеолярного эхинококкоза.

Species of flatworm
Speciesbox
| image = Echinococcus multilocularis. jpg
| image caption = Echinococcus multilocularis isolated from a fox
| taxon = Echinococcus multilocularis
| authority = Leuckart, 1863
| synonyms =
Echinococcus sibiricensis
Alveococcus multilocularis but hepatomegaly is a common physical finding.

The life cycle of E. multilocularis involves a primary or definitive host and a secondary or intermediate host, each harboring different life stages of the parasite. Foxes, coyotes, domestic dogs, and other canids are the definitive hosts for the adult stage of the parasite. Cats may also be involved. The head of the tapeworm attaches to the intestinal mucosa by hooks and suckers. It then produces hundreds of microscopic eggs, which are dispersed through the feces. Voles are the intermediate host. Eggs ingested by rodents develop in the liver, lungs and other organs to form multilocular cysts. The life cycle is completed after a fox or canine consumes a rodent infected with cysts. Larvae within the cyst develop into adult tapeworms in the intestinal tract of the definitive host.

Serological and imaging tests are commonly used to diagnose this disease. Since the serological tests for alveolar echinococcosis only indicate exposure to the parasite and not ongoing infection, visualization of the parasitic mass is required to confirm the diagnosis. Frequently used serological tests include antibody tests, ELISA and indirect hemaglutination (IHA). An intradermal allergic reaction test (Casoni test) has also been used to diagnose patients. Imaging tests include: X rays, CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a highly lethal helminthic disease in humans, caused by the larval form of the parasitic tapeworm E. multilocularis. The disease represents a serious public threat in China, Siberia, and central Europe. However, since the 1990s, the prevalence of the disease seems to be increasing in Europe, not only in the historically endemic areas but its neighboring regions. AE primarily affects the liver by inducing a hepatic disorder similar to liver cancer, therefore becoming extremely dangerous and difficult to diagnose. If the infection metastasizes, it may spread to any other organ and could be lethal if not treated. The most common treatment for AE is to surgically remove the parasite. Since it is difficult and not always possible to remove the entire parasite, medicine such as Albendazole is utilized to keep the cyst from growing back.

[[File:Parasite140082 fig1 Echinococcus multilocularis in Canada. png|thumb|left|Epidemiology of Echinococcus multilocularis in Canada Children, health care workers and domestic animals are at risk of ingesting the eggs after coming into contact with the feces of infected wild foxes. Even with the improvement of health in developed/industrialized countries, the prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) did not decrease. Still the infection is fairly rare. Between 1982 and 2000 a total of 559 cases were reported throughout Europe. Recent findings indicate that E. multilocularis is likely expanding its range in the central region of the United States and Canada and that invasions of European strains might have occurred; the endemic presence of the parasite in urban areas and a total of 16 human cases in Alberta, Canada have been reported. The first human case in Alberta was diagnosed in 2013. In one case, the infection caused a grapefruit sized tumour in the lung, kidney and diaphragm, which had to be surgically removed. Because of the significant difficulty in diagnosising an infection caused by Echinococcus multiocularis, it is suspected that this parasite is often misdiagnosed. Several studies that have been done since the 1950s in North America indicate a higher prevalence of Echinococcus multiocularis than previously thought. However, due to limited knowledge about the parasite, it is often not monitored in wild or domestic animals; this monitoring will become crucial to the control of the parasite in the future as it continues to spread.