Parasites of Caribou (3): Tapeworm Cysts

Authors

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

July 2004

Comments

Published by GOVERNMENT OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR,
Department of Natural Resources. http://www.gov.nl.ca/agric/

Abstract

All wild animals carry diseases. In some cases these might be of concern if they can spread to humans or domestic animals. In other cases, they might be of interest if they impact on the health of our wild herds, or simply if they have been noticed by hunters and you would like to know more.
This fact sheet is one of a series produced on the common diseases of caribou and covers the cyst form of three common tapeworms. Two (Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei) exist on both the island of Newfoundland and in Labrador, while the third (Echinococcus granulosus) is so far only reported in Labrador. The first two have no known public health importance while the third, known also as hydatid disease, can be a cause of human illness.