Eggs discharged in faeces are swallowed by intermediate host as sheep,cattle and occasionaly man.
Man ingests the egg along food or water contaminated with faeces of dog or by handling dogs whose hairs are usually contaminated with eggs.
In the intestine the hatches,penetrates the mucosa,to reach different organs where it develops into hydatid cyst.The liver is the common affected organ followed by the lung,then the brain,bone,spleen,kidney,muscles,heart and eyes.
When the cyst is ingested by dog and other canines,the animals develop the adult worms.Since cysts in the viscera of man are not available for dog,the life cycle of the parasite comes to a blind end.
Symptomatology:
Local effects: depend on the size and site of the cyst:
cough,pain,symptoms of increased intracranial tension,epilepsy,bone erosion,fracture.
Diagnosis:
Radiological: X-ray,ulrasonography,C.T scans.
Puncture and aspiration to demonstrate hydatid sand.
Treatment:
-Surgical removal
-Sterilization.
Control and Prevention:
-periodic examination and treatment of pet
-elimination of stray ones
-infected organs in slaughter houses should be destroyed to prevent infection of dogs
-avoid food and drink contaminated with faeces of dogs (avoid contact with faeces r the dog presence in food places)
-avoid contact with possible contaminated dogs
-wash the hands after you play with the dog.
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