Taxonomic characters in the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda: Taeniidae).

Not more than 4 species of cestodes of the genus Echinococcus Rudolphi, 1801, are recognised as valid. The larval stage of at least 3 of them is able to develop in man, causing respective types of hydatid disease. Accurate characterization of these cestodes, including both larval and adult stages, is essential for identification, upon which depends development of methods for preventing infection of man and domestic animals. Because morphological characteristics of the larval cestodes may be modified according to the species of host in which they develop, identification should be based upon taxonomic characters of specimens from the respective natural hosts, which can be identified by means of ecological investigations in endemic areas in combination with controlled infection of experimental animals. The morphological and biological characteristics of the known species are discussed, and the two species most important to public health and economically-E. granulosus (Batsch, 1786) and E. multilocularis Leuckart, 1863-are distinguished.