Echinococcus granulosus is commonly described as which parasite?

Prepare for the VetSkill Level 3 Diploma VN02 – Diagnostic Principles Test. Engage with multiple-choice questions, hints, and explanations. Achieve your certification!

Multiple Choice

Echinococcus granulosus is commonly described as which parasite?

Explanation:
Echinococcus granulosus is a dog tapeworm. It is a tiny cestode whose adult lives in the small intestine of canids, most commonly dogs, with eggs shed in the feces. When these eggs are ingested by intermediate hosts such as sheep, hydatid cysts form in their organs; humans can be accidental hosts as well. This is why it’s described as a dog tapeworm. It is not the cat roundworm, nor the fox tapeworm (that label fits a related species, Echinococcus multilocularis), nor the horse tapeworm.

Echinococcus granulosus is a dog tapeworm. It is a tiny cestode whose adult lives in the small intestine of canids, most commonly dogs, with eggs shed in the feces. When these eggs are ingested by intermediate hosts such as sheep, hydatid cysts form in their organs; humans can be accidental hosts as well. This is why it’s described as a dog tapeworm. It is not the cat roundworm, nor the fox tapeworm (that label fits a related species, Echinococcus multilocularis), nor the horse tapeworm.

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