Echinococcus
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The genus Echinococcus includes six species of cyclophyllid tapeworms to date, of the family Taeniidae. Infection with Echinococcus results in hydatid disease, also known as echinococcosis.
In humans, this causes a disease called echinococcosis. Latency can be up to 50 years, and is mostly found in South and Central America, the Middle East, China, and the West of the U.S.A. (e.g.. Arizona, New Mexico and California).