The Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare and treatable tapeworm strain that originated in Europe and has been firmly becoming established in Alberta, Canada. The cancer-like parasitic disease is caused by some species of tapeworms that have made their way into North America, Canadian researchers wards.
The newest review shows that cases of the very rare cancer-like tapeworm have started to rise in provinces of Alberta over the past few years in both animals and humans. There is numerous evidence that shows that the parasites are likely brought into the country by dogs imported from Europe and have now made a new home in North America.
Understanding Alveolar Echinococcosis
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rchinooccosis is a disease caused by infection with small tapeworms of the Echinococcus genus and is classified as either alveolar echinococcosis or cystic echinococcosis.
Alveolar echinococcosis is caused by infection with larva Echinococcus multilocularis, a 1-4 millimeter tapeworm found in dogs, coyotes, and foxes. Small rodents have been identified as intermediate hosts of the tapeworm. Despite cases of AE in animals in endemic areas are common, human cases remain a very rare occurrence. AE poses a greater threat to human health than its counterpart, cystic echinococcosis,
AE can be found all over the world, says the CDC, but mostly reported in northern latitudes such as central Europe, China, Russia, Central Asia, Japan, North America. And is found primarily in north-central US regions from eastern Montana to central Ohio, Canada, and Alaska.
Human cases are primarily through ingestion of the microscopic tapeworm eggs from eating contaminated food and handling infected animals. AE typically involves the liver but has also been reported to spread to other organs of the body. Due to cysts' slow growth, infection with AE may not show symptoms for a long period.
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Canadian Researchers Warns that Cancer-like Tapeworms are Wriggling to North America
In a case review published in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, entitled "Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Alveolar Echinococcosis: An Emerging Infectious Disease in Alberta, Canada," Canadian researchers say that they have documented 17 human cases of AE in Alberta from 2013-2020. All reported cases were treated with antiparasitic drugs, which were utilized by doctors when surgery alone was not able to remove the larvae growth safely.
Unfortunately, one has died from complications arising from surgery. Most of the patients reported with AE had dogs; scientists emphasized that AE cases in wildlife, especially in coyotes, have been increasing during the same period.
Genetic analysis of the new cases of tapeworms found in the patients suggests that it can be traced back to a tapeworm strain that hitched a ride from a dog originally infected in Europe.
Despite Alberta not deemed as a current hotspot for the tapeworms, Houston has heard warnings from other researchers following the discovery of 2 human cases of AE in the US. Researchers note that the parasitic disease could spread across North America and could considerably achieve a higher prevalence than Alberta, as reported by Gizmodo.
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