Alveolar hydatid disease
Alveolar hydatid disease (AHD) is a form of echinococcosis, or a disease that originates from a parasitic flatworm. AHD is caused by an infection of the flatworm species Echinococcus multilocularis. Although alveolar echinococcosis is rarely diagnosed in humans and is not as widespread as cystic echinococcosis (caused by Echinococcus granulosus), it is also still a serious disease that has a significantly high fatality rate. It is considered one of the most life-threatening helminthic infections humans can have.
| Aveolar Hydatid Disease | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Alveolar echinococcosis Alveolar colloid of the liver, Alveolococcosis, Multilocular echinococcosis |
| Specialty | Infectious diseases, helminthologist |
| Causes | infection of larval stage Echinococcus multilocularis |
It is most prevalent in China, Eastern France, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Japan, Afghanistan, and Russia, and is mostly confined to the Northern hemisphere, south to around the 40th or 45th degree of Northern latitude, save some cases reported in Northern Africa.