Echinococcus

noun

1. Any of several parasitic tapeworms of the genus <em>Echinococcus,</em> the larvae of which infect mammals and form large, spherical cysts in the liver or lungs, causing serious or fatal disease.
2. <em>Tænia echinococcus</em> in its larval (scolex) stage, which forms the so-called hydatids occurring in the liver, brain, etc., of man and other animals; the hydatid form of the wandered scolex of <em>Tænia echinococcus</em>, having deutoscolices or daughter-cysts formed by gemmation.
3. A parasite of man and of many domestic and wild animals, forming compound cysts or tumors (called hydatid cysts) in various organs, but especially in the liver and lungs, which often cause death. It is the larval stage of the <spn>Tænia echinococcus</spn>, a small tapeworm peculiar to the dog. The adult form is not found in man.
4. A <xref>parasite</xref> of <xref>humans</xref> and of many domestic and wild animals, the <xref>larval</xref> stage of Taenia echinococcus, that forms compound <xref>cysts</xref> or <xref>tumours</xref> (called <xref>hydatid</xref> cysts) in various <xref>organs</xref>, but especially in the <xref>liver</xref> and <xref>lungs</xref>.
5. tapeworms whose larvae are parasitic in humans and domestic animals