International Journal of Science and Technology (IJST)

Cystic Echinococcosis: A Review Article

Hydatid cystic or cystic echinococcosis disease remains a major challenge due to its medical and veterinary importance and its widespread spread all over the world as well as the economic losses caused by this disease, whether for humans or farm animals. Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent for this disease, targeting the liver and lungs primarily and in varying proportions of the rest of the body. This disease is characterized by the non-appearance of pathological symptoms for long periods as its appearance depends on the size, number and site of the cysts formed and the type of organ infected and surgery is still the most effective solution for the disposal of hydatid cysts. Dogs and the rest of Canidae family represent the final host of the parasite causing the disease while herbivorous animals are the median host of the parasite, but the human is an occasional host who becomes infected as a result of accidental ingestion of eggs and therefore does not donate to the perpetuation of the parasite's life cycle. The current article discusses cystic echinococcosis disease in several aspects, including the historical background of the disease, the scientific classification of the causative parasite, the life cycle and the stages of the parasite and the structure of each stage of its development and the symptoms caused by the infection of this disease and the treatment used and methods of diagnosis as well as methods of prevention and control of the disease in addition to some studies conducted on this disease.