[Epidemiology, pathogenicity and diagnosis of echinococcosis]

Abstract

Echinococcosis is an infectious disease caused by the larval form of the genus Echinococcus. Two of the parasite species may cause severe disease in humans: Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. The liver is the most frequently involved organ in patients with echinococcosis. Diagnosis is achieved by variety of clinical methods, such as computerized tomography, ultrasound examination, magnetic resonance imaging and immunodiagnosis based on the detection of patient's serum antibodies.