The larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato(sl) causes cystic echinococcosis (CE), a neglected andchronic parasitic zoonotic disease infecting over an estimated one million people worldwide.E. granulosus slisa species complex with uncertain taxonomic status, including several cryptic species (genotypes):E. granulosussensu stricto(ss) (G1/3);E. canadensiscluster [G6/7, G8, G10, proposed to be split intoE. intermedius(G6/7),E. borealis(G8), andE. canadensis(G10)];E. ortleppi(G4);E. equinus(G5); andE. felidis.Canids, in particulardogs, are definitive hosts for the sexual stage adult worms, while livestock, predominantly sheep, are intermediatehosts for the asexual larval stage metacestodes. Adult worms induce no evident pathology in canids, butmetacestodes moderately reduce livestock productivity. Humans are accidental dead-end intermediate hostswho are infected by the ingestion of eggs shed in the feces of infected canids.

This work was supported by: (i) ERANet-LAC 2nd Joint Call (http://www.eranet-lac.eu) and the Italian Ministry of Health–NDTND project; (ii) EU-LAC Health (http://eulachealth.eu/) and Italian Ministry of Health–PERITAS project.

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