People who accidentally swallow the eggs of the Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm are at risk for infection. Dogs that eat home-slaughtered sheep and other livestock become infected with the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus and the tapeworm eggs can be found in their stool.

Can humans get Echinococcus?

Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or soil, or after direct contact with animal hosts. Echinococcosis is often expensive and complicated to treat and may require extensive surgery and/or prolonged drug therapy.

What causes echinococcosis?

Cystic echinocccosis (CE), also known as hydatid disease, is caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, a ~2–7 millimeter long tapeworm found in dogs (definitive host) and sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs (intermediate hosts).