Dr. Murai Éva - Gubányi András szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 28. (Budapest, 1995)

Larval Echinococcus multilocularis infestation (alveolar hydatiosis) was found in three cattle (0.001% of the cases examined) and in 2 rodents (2 M. nivalis 0.45%> of cases examined). It is worth mentioning that cattle and rodents both lived in region of Comandau, which is located 900 and 1300 m above sea level (Fig . IF). EH cysts present in intermediate hosts were grouped by infected organ, cyst morphology, and fertility rate. In morphology and structure the cysts do not differ from the forms described in the literature. Although Vanek and Slais (1988) described seven different forms of cysts, for the sake of simplicity the cysts were divided into 4 groups only: unilobular unicystic, unilobular polycystic, multilobular unicystic and multilobular polycystic. According to the content of cysts, caseified and calcified forms were recorded (Tables 2-5). The unilobular unicystic form was the dominant type in our material with incidences of 65.4%> in cattle, 54.5% in sheep, 51.7%) in swine, 100%) in reddeer, 100% of roe-deer, 65.7%> in wild boars. Other forms occurred with a lower incidence. The liver was 48.4% in cattle, 28.8% in sheep, 53.0%> in swine, 44.4% in wild boars, 90.0% in reddeer, and 33.3% in roe-deer) followed by the liver + lungs (39.3%o in cattle, 34.2% in sheep, 28.9% in swine etc.) and lungs alone (10.7% in cattle, 37.3%) in sheep, 18.7% in swine). EH cysts were rarely found in other organs (kidney, spleen, heart). Larval E. granulosus infestation of the liver (or other organs) of intermediate hosts manifests itself as a round cyst, filled with semi-transparent liquid and measuring 20 and 220 mm in diameter (Fig. 5D). Studies on the fertility rate of cysts revealed that in swine and wild boars the EH cysts located in the liver were the most fertile (93.0%) and 36.6%>, respectively), while in cattle (67.0%), sheep (98.6%), red deer (100%), roe-deers (50.0%) the cysts formed in the lungs were the most fertile. The alveolar hydatid cysts of cattle are located in the liver (Fig. 5H) and constitute a group of numerous vesicular cauliflower-like formations, which is 0.8-2.5 cm in diameter, and show continous proliferation. They are morphologically similar to cysts reported from the liver of cattle by Senk and Brglez (1966) and Stoye (1990). E. multilocularis cysts found in the liver of snow voles (M nivalis) are yellowish-white conglomerates of vesicles (Fig. 5F). Each of them is 0.5-1.3 cm in diameter, has a complex structure and consists of several alveoli. Structurally they are similar to the cysts described by Ohbayashi et al. (1971) and Genov et al. (1980). The germinative pellicle lining the newly formed alveoli consists of well visible all groups showing vigarous proliferation, very similar to those seen in the case of fibrosarcoma. DISCUSSION Two out of the four Echinococcus species live in Europe: E. granulosus and E. multilocularis (Rausch 1967, 1986a, 1986b, Frank 1987, Worbes et al. 1988, Eckert et al. 1991, Brglez and Wikerhauser 1992, Ewald and Eckert 1993, Malczewski et al. 1995). The metacestoda of ubiquitous E. granulosus are wide-spread in all ungulate species of the continent and also in humans as intermediate hosts. The adult form occurs in C. lupus and in several other species of Canidae. Hydatid disease causes huge economic losses and severe health problems in both humans and animals.