Parasitic infections in humans and animals

Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by larval tapeworms of the genus *Echinococcus*, transmitted between animals and humans through contaminated food, water, or contact with infected hosts—making it a zoonosis with a global footprint that is heaviest in pastoral and low-income communities. The disease can silently form cysts in the liver, lungs, or brain over years before symptoms appear, which complicates both timely diagnosis and treatment, and the related neurological condition neurocysticercosis follows a similarly insidious course. Researchers are actively working to improve molecular and imaging diagnostics, reduce reliance on surgery through better pharmacological options, and map the genetic diversity of *Echinococcus* strains to understand how transmission patterns vary across regions. A central open question is how surveillance systems and coordinated veterinary and human health interventions can be scaled in endemic areas where the burden is greatest but resources are most limited.

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Keywords

EchinococcosisNeurocysticercosisZoonosisDiagnosisTreatmentEpidemiology