Joint International Conference on Long-term Experiments ...

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF
HEPATIC HYDATID CYST
Mirela Indrieş, Viorica Coldea, Cristian Brisc, Ildiko Lenard, Sonia Drăghici,
Andrei Csep, Daciana Sabău, Nicoleta Negruţ
University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicineand Pharmacy Oradea
ABSTRACT
Human echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the tapeworm of the genus
Echinococcus. Human disease is a „dead end” which interrupts the life cycle of the
parasite. Hepatic localization is the most frequent (63%), because the infestation occurs by
digestive way, and liver is the first filter on this way. Hydatid disease may have any
localization. Cystic echinococcosis has public health importance not only in areas of
endemicity but also in countries or regions without endemicity due to the migration of
infected people and livestock exchanges.
Keywords: Echinococcus granulosus, hepatic hydatic cyst (HHC).
INTRODUCTION
Human echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the tapeworm of the genus
Echinococcus. Of the 4 known species of Echinococcus, 3 are of medical importance in
humans. These are Echinococcus granulosus, causing cystic echinococcosis; Echinococcus
multilocularis, causing alveolar echinococcosis; and Echinococcus vogeli. Echinococcus
granulosus is the most common of the three. Echinococcus multilocularis is rare, but is the
most virulent and Echinococcus vogeli is the most rare (Table 1) (Brunetti E, 2006).
Table 1: Echinococcus Species
Echinococcus Species Echinococcosis Diseases
1. Echinococcus granulosus Cystic Echinococcosis (cystic hydatid disease)
2. Echinococcus multilocularis Alveolar Echinococcosis
3. Echinococcus vogeli Polycystic Echinococcosis
AS 4. Echinococcus oligarthus Polycystic Echinococcosis
AS=mal Species
Incidence
Echinococcosis is a very rare disease in northern Europe. The disease is endemic in the
Balkan Area and in Eastern Europe. The endemic areas are the Mediterranean countries and
the Middle East. The intensive endemic areas are the southern part of South America,
Iceland, Australia, New Zealand and southern parts of Africa. The incidence of Cystic
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