Laboratory Diagnosis of Human Cystic Echinococcosis



Darani HY¹
Source: Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 136 Published:2019

Abstract

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the larval (metacestode) stages of four species of genus Echinococcus including, Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, E. oligarthrus and E. vogeli. Imaging methods for detecting space occupying lesions are the primary approaches for diagnosing of human Echinococcosis. However, these methods are not able to differentiate between Echinococcosis and other space occupying lesions such as Bennie or malignant tumors. Laboratory techniques especially immunological methods are usually used for this differential diagnosis. Parasitological and pathological techniques are used for confirmation of the diseases following removing the cysts by surgery. Preparing samples that possibly contain protoscolices for molecular diagnosis is associated with occurrence of secondary infection. In this chapter recent advances in laboratory diagnosis of human Echinococcosis has been reviewed. © 2019 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.