SURGICAL AND CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF ALVEOLAR ECHINOCOCCOSIS INA DOG

Surgical removal of macroscopically detectable metacestode tissue foll owed by postoperative chemotherapy according to established human prot ocols resulted in complete clinical remission and immediate normalizat ion of hyperglobulinemia in a dog with alveolar echinococcosis (AE). T he disease is caused by the metacestode stage of the cestode, Echinoco ccus multilocularis. In endemic areas, AE should be included in the di fferential diagnosis of polycystic liver masses, especially if concomi tant hyperglobulinemia is present. However, the importance of AE is no t only the disease of the single dog itself but also the potential ris k of infection for humans in an endemic area.