Assistant Professor Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Manhattan, Kansas, United States
Disclosure(s):
Kamilyah R. Miller, DVM, PhD: Elanco Animal Health: Funding provided for portions of the research presented here (Ongoing), Payment received for consulting and travel (Ongoing), Payment received for speaking and travel (Ongoing)
In this presentation, Dr. Kamilyah Miller will discuss the clinical and zoonotic importance of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the larval stages of E. multilocularis, is a chronic, and often fatal, infection in domestic dogs and humans. Domestic dogs and humans become aberrant intermediate hosts after accidental ingestion of eggs. Since 2018, there have been an increased number of E. multilocularis case reports in domestic dogs and humans. Additionally, surveillance in wild canids has shown that E. multilocularis has spread outside the known historical range in North America. This lecture will review the life cycle of E multilocularis, the infection routes for domestic dogs can become definitive and intermediate hosts, and recent data on the prevalence of E. multilocularis in North America. We will also review how to communicate the zoonotic importance of E. multilocularis to your clients. Bring your questions, and your curiosity, as we discuss when, how, and why to look for E. multilocularis in your patients!
Learning Objectives:
Understand the zoonotic importance of Echinococcus multilocularis for domestic dogs and cats and humans.
Understand the routes of infection of E. multilocularis in domestic dogs.
Understand the prevalence of E. multilocularis in wild canids.
Understand the available diagnostic tests for detecting E. multilocularis and what stages of E. multilocularis praziquantel is effective against.
