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

As dogs and other canids are the definitive hosts for Echinococcus spp., eggs are not expected to be found in human stool and are not considered diagnostic in human infections.  Eggs are however indistinguishable from the eggs of Taenia spp. and other members of the Taeniidae.  The eggs measure 30-35 µm in diameter and are radially-striated.  The internal oncosphere contains 6 refractile hooks.

A

A: Egg of Echinococcus sp. in an unstained wet mount of concentrated stool from a dog.  Image taken at 400x magnification.