This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Eckert, J.
Right arrow Articles by Deplazes, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Eckert, J.
Right arrow Articles by Deplazes, P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2004, p. 107-135, Vol. 17, No. 1
0893-8512/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.17.1.107-135.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biological, Epidemiological, and Clinical Aspects of Echinococcosis, a Zoonosis of Increasing Concern

Johannes Eckert* and Peter Deplazes

Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland

Echinococcosis in humans is a zoonotic infection caused by larval stages (metacestodes) of cestode species of the genus Echinococcus. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is caused by Echinococcus granulosus, alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by E. multilocularis, and polycystic forms are caused by either E. vogeli or E. oligarthrus. In untreated cases, AE has a high mortality rate. Although control is essentially feasible, CE remains a considerable health problem in many regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. AE is restricted to the northern hemisphere regions of North America and Eurasia. Recent studies have shown that E. multilocularis, the causative agent of AE, is more widely distributed than previously thought. There are also some hints of an increasing significance of polycystic forms of the disease, which are restricted to Central and South America. Various aspects of human echinococcosis are discussed in this review, including data on the infectivity of genetic variants of E. granulosus to humans, the increasing invasion of cities in Europe and Japan by red foxes, the main definitive hosts of E. multilocularis, and the first demonstration of urban cycles of the parasite. Examples of emergence or reemergence of CE are presented, and the question of potential spreading of E. multilocularis is critically assessed. Furthermore, information is presented on new and improved tools for diagnosing the infection in final hosts (dogs, foxes, and cats) by coproantigen or DNA detection and the application of molecular techniques to epidemiological studies. In the clinical field, the available methods for diagnosing human CE and AE are described and the treatment options are summarized. The development of new chemotherapeutic options for all forms of human echinococcosis remains an urgent requirement. A new option for the control of E. granulosus in the intermediate host population (mainly sheep and cattle) is vaccination. Attempts are made to reduce the prevalence of E. multilocualaris in fox populations by regular baiting with an anthelmintic (praziquantel). Recent data have shown that this control option may be used in restricted areas, for example in cities, with the aim of reducing the infection risk for humans.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, CH-857 Zurich, Switzerland. Phone: (41) 1-635 85 01. Fax: (41) 1-635 89 07. E-mail: eje{at}isi.ch.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, January 2004, p. 107-135, Vol. 17, No. 1
0893-8512/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.17.1.107-135.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Bernthaler, P., Epping, K., Schmitz, G., Deplazes, P., Brehm, K. (2009). Molecular Characterization of EmABP, an Apolipoprotein A-I Binding Protein Secreted by the Echinococcus multilocularis Metacestode. Infect. Immun. 77: 5564-5571 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • (2009). Pathology Quiz Case 1: Diagnosis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 135: 1058-1059 [Full Text]  
  • Sharma, N., Xess, D. (2009). Expectoration of a hydatid cyst. CMAJ 180: 1227-1227 [Full Text]  
  • Gavidia, C. M., Gonzalez, A. E., Lopera, L., Jayashi, C., Angelats, R., Barron, E. A., Ninaquispe, B., Villarreal, L., Garcia, H. H., Verastegui, M. R., Gilman, R. H. (2009). Evaluation of Nitazoxanide and Oxfendazole Efficacy against Cystic Echinococcosis in Naturally Infected Sheep. Am J Trop Med Hyg 80: 367-372 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Spicher, M., Roethlisberger, C., Lany, C., Stadelmann, B., Keiser, J., Ortega-Mora, L. M., Gottstein, B., Hemphill, A. (2008). In Vitro and In Vivo Treatments of Echinococcus Protoscoleces and Metacestodes with Artemisinin and Artemisinin Derivatives. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 3447-3450 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Santivanez, S. J., Sotomayor, A. E., Vasquez, J. C., Somocurcio, J. G., Rodriguez, S., Gonzalez, A. E., Gilman, R. H., Garcia, H. H., the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru, (2008). Absence of Brain Involvement and Factors Related to Positive Serology in a Prospective Series of 61 Cases with Pulmonary Hydatid Disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 79: 84-88 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Yeh, W. W., Saint, S., Weinberger, S. E. (2007). A Growing Problem -- A 36-year-old pregnant woman at 21 weeks of gestation presented with a 4-week history of a dry, nonproductive cough. NEJM 357: 489-494 [Full Text]  
  • Naguleswaran, A., Spicher, M., Vonlaufen, N., Ortega-Mora, L. M., Torgerson, P., Gottstein, B., Hemphill, A. (2006). In Vitro Metacestodicidal Activities of Genistein and Other Isoflavones against Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50: 3770-3778 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mathis, A., Wild, P., Boettger, E. C., Kapel, C. M. O., Deplazes, P. (2005). Mitochondrial Ribosome as the Target for the Macrolide Antibiotic Clarithromycin in the Helminth Echinococcus multilocularis. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49: 3251-3255 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Karmali, S., Thompson, S. K., McKinnon, G., Anderson, I. B. (2005). A 37-year-old woman with fever and abdominal pain. CMAJ 172: 1683-1683 [Full Text]  
  • Lorenzo, C., Ferreira, H. B., Monteiro, K. M., Rosenzvit, M., Kamenetzky, L., Garcia, H. H., Vasquez, Y., Naquira, C., Sanchez, E., Lorca, M., Contreras, M., Last, J. A., Gonzalez-Sapienza, G. G. (2005). Comparative Analysis of the Diagnostic Performance of Six Major Echinococcus granulosus Antigens Assessed in a Double-Blind, Randomized Multicenter Study. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 2764-2770 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Halezeroglu, S. (2005). Resection of intrathoracic and subdiaphragmatic hydatid cysts. MMCTS 2005: 307- [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • SHAIKENOV, B. S., RYSMUKHAMBETOVA, A. T., MASSENOV, B., DEPLAZES, P., MATHIS, A., TORGERSON, P. R. (2004). SHORT REPORT: THE USE OF A POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION TO DETECT ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS (G1 STRAIN) EGGS IN SOIL SAMPLES. Am J Trop Med Hyg 71: 441-443 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»