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Case #232 – July, 2008

A study was conducted on herding dogs in a sheep-raising region of northeastern Arizona to determine the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus. Public health officials wanted to determine the risk for hydatid cyst disease in the local people. Stool specimens from the dogs were collected and taken back to a laboratory for analysis. Figures A and B show objects recovered from the stool of several of the dogs. The objects varied in length from 10-13 centimeters and measured approximately 2 millimeters wide. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?

Figure A

Figure B

Images presented in the DPDx case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving. On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.

DPDx is an educational resource designed for health professionals and laboratory scientists. For an overview including prevention, control, and treatment visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/.