Final answer:
Echinococcus granulosus is a tapeworm that infects dogs and causes cysts in the lungs and liver of intermediate hosts. The tapeworm has a complex life cycle involving two hosts and can cause severe symptoms if the cysts burst.
Step-by-step explanation:
Echinococcus granulosus is a tapeworm that infects dogs and can also parasitize humans. It has a complex life cycle involving two hosts: dogs and intermediate hosts such as sheep, pigs, goats, and cattle. The tapeworm releases eggs in the dog's feces, which can be ingested by the intermediate hosts.
Once inside the intermediate host, the eggs hatch, and the larvae migrate to the lungs or liver, forming cysts. These cysts can grow large and cause symptoms if they burst. If the infected organ is then eaten by a dog, the cysts break, and the tapeworm heads attach to the dog's intestine to grow into adult tapeworms, completing the life cycle.