By directly ingesting food items or drinking water that is contaminated with stool from an infected animal. By petting or having other contact with cats and dogs that are infected. These pets may shed the eggs in their stool, and their fur may be contaminated. They may also contaminate other objects, such as harnesses or leashes, which can also spread infection. Because the cysts are usually slow-growing, infection may not produce symptoms for years.
Symptoms usually reflect the size and location of the cysts.
Echinococcosis is diagnosed by a blood test that can detect the presence of antibodies to the parasite. The disease may also be diagnosed by directly identifying the parasite in fluid or tissue samples. Surgery is the most common form of treatment for echinococcosis. Do not eat wild fruits or vegetables picked directly from the ground without careful washing or cooking. Do not allow dogs to have access to sheep carcasses.