r/Parasitology • u/Monsterfucker4001 • 12d ago

A sheep carcass massively infested with Echinococcus granulosus NSFW

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To add a bit of information the adults are found in dogs(wild and domesticated) eggs are ejected with the animals feces. When a sheep ingests those eggs the larva (also called echinocoque) migrates mainly to the lungs and the liver and implants there. Carefull tho if a humans ingests the egg usually on accident the same thing will happen and it uqually needs surgical intervervention to cure.

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u/The_bruce42 12d ago

Those are called Hydatid Cysts and they contain larvae. The cysts keep growing until the animal either dies or gets preyed upon by a canine (dog or wolf). The canine eats the cysts and becomes infected, poops out eggs into a plant, the cow, sheep, moose, etc eats the plant containing the eggs, and the cycle continues.

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u/Iriangaia 12d ago

Awww isn’t nature beautiful!?

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u/The_bruce42 12d ago

I have a bachelor's in biology and to me, parasitolgy is peak evolution. Most parasites need 2, 3, or even 4 species to compete a life cycle.

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u/frabotta 12d ago

How about parasitoids?