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[Echinococcus granulosus] [Echinococcus multilocularis] [Echinococcus oligarthrus] [Echinococcus vogeli]

As dogs and other canids are the only definitive hosts for Echinococcus, adults are not expected to be found in the human host.  Adults range from 3-6 mm in length and usually consist of a scolex and three proglottids.  The third (terminal) proglottid is gravid and is longer than wide.  The scolex contains four suckers and a rostellum with 25-50 hooks.

A	B

A: Echinococcus granulosus adult, stained with carmine.
B: Close-up of the scolex of E. granulosus in Figure A.  In this focal plane, one of the suckers is clearly visible, as is the ring of rostellar hooks.