Final answer:
Echinococcus multilocularis is a tapeworm species that causes echinococcosis or alveolar echinococcosis. It is mainly found in the Northern Hemisphere and has a life cycle involving a definitive host and an intermediate host. Human infection occurs through accidental ingestion of tapeworm eggs and can be treated with surgery and medication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Echinococcus multilocularis is a tapeworm species that causes a disease called echinococcosis or alveolar echinococcosis. It is mainly found in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe, Asia, and North America. The tapeworm's life cycle involves two hosts - the definitive host, which is usually a wild or domestic carnivore like a fox or dog, and an intermediate host, which can be a small mammal or rodent.
When the definitive host ingests eggs shed in the feces of an infected animal, the eggs hatch, and the larvae travel through the host's intestines and develop into adult tapeworms. The tapeworms then produce infective eggs, which are shed in the feces and can contaminate the environment. If an intermediate host ingests these eggs, the larvae migrate to its liver, where they form small fluid-filled cysts. If the intermediate host is consumed by a definitive host, the tapeworm lifecycle is completed.
Human infection occurs when individuals accidentally consume the tapeworm eggs in contaminated food or water, leading to the formation of cysts in various organs, most commonly the liver. The disease can be serious and potentially fatal if left untreated, but it can be treated with surgery, antiparasitic medication, or a combination of both.