Serotonin stimulates Echinococcus multilocularis larval development

Larval development of Echinococcus multilocularis in beige mice with the Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Three-dimensional hepatocyte culture system for the study of Echinococcus multilocularis larval development

BACKGROUND Hepatocyte-based metacestode culture is an attractive method to study alveolar echinococcosis (AE), but it is limited by the relatively short lifespan of cultured hepatocytes in maintaining their normal function. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We describe a three-dimensional (3D) hepatic culture system developed from co-cultured hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells using a collag...

Echinococcus multilocularis in Estonia

To the Editor: Alveolar echinoco-ccosis (AE) caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is one of the most important emerging zoonosis in Europe. The fatality rate is >90% in untreated patients (1). In Europe, the distribution range of the zoonotic tapeworm E. multilocularis has expanded over the last few decades, and the parasite attracts increasing awareness as a public health issue (2–5). In 2003...

Parenteral strobilar development of Echinococcus multilocularis in scid mice.

Parenteral strobilation of Echinococcus multilocularis was observed in acid (severe combined immuno-deficient) mice after intracerebral, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal inoculation with protoscoleces. Evaginated protoscoleces and segmented worms were obtained at the inoculated sites. Most worms recovered from peritoneal cavity of scid mice were encapsulated by connective tissue and granulocyte...

Echinococcus multilocularis in Dogs, Japan

To the Editor: In the October 2005 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Song et al. described a fiber-optic, microsphere-based, highdensity array composed of 18 speciesspecific probe microsensors, used to identify biological warfare agents, including Clostridium botulinum (1). Although the researchers used multiple probes for C. botulinum, we doubt that this approach is suitable for this orga...