ECHINOCOCCUS 69 



Unfortunately, the removal of the tapeworm is not always 

 followed by the relief of the symptoms, and in some 

 cases such an infection is the starting point of hypo- 

 chondriasis, which must be treated on ordinary lines. 



Prophylaxis. Thorough cooking of meat will destroy 

 the cysticerci. Where raw meat has to be taken beef 

 and pork should be avoided, as it is very difficult to 

 examine the meat closely enough to be sure that no 

 cysticerci are present. Raw mutton, pounded, and 

 chicken are free from risk, as man is not the definitive 

 host of any of the parasites of sheep or fowls. It is well 

 to remember that the oncospheres of T. solium if intro- 

 duced by the mouth may develop in man into the 

 Cysticercus celluloses, in the tissues as well as that the 

 Cysticercus celluloscc will develop in the intestine of man 

 into T. solium. 



Other Taeniidae that have been found in man but are 

 very rare are the T. africana (one case) and T. confusa. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis of tapeworms is easy, as the 

 ripe proglottides are passed with the faeces. Sometimes 

 the oncospheres are found at times when no segments 

 are being passed. There is usually an excess of eosino- 

 philes in the blood. 



ECHINOCOCCUS. 



T. echinococcus is considered separately, as the cysti- 

 cercoid form only is found in man ; the adult form is 

 found in dogs, wolves and jackals. 



T. echinococcus is a small tapeworm, and usually com- 

 posed of only four segments, sometimes three or five. 

 The last segment is much the largest and is the only one 

 containing mature eggs (fig. 37). The rostellum is promi- 

 nent and swollen, and round the base are two rows of 

 hooklets, thirty to forty in number. 



In countries where dogs are numerous and live in close 

 association with man, man is frequently infected, though 

 sheep and pigs are the usual intermediate hosts. 



In Iceland and Australia the disease is a common one, 

 and in some parts of Europe it is not rare. 



