Tapeworms whose larvae are parasitic in humans and domestic animals

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context zoology English) A parasite of humans and of many domestic and wild animals, the larval stage of ''Taenia echinococcus'', that forms compound cysts or tumours (called hydatid cysts) in various organs, but especially in the liver and lungs.

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Echinococcus \E*chi`no*coc"cus\ ([e^]*k[imac]"n[-o]*k[o^]k*k), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'echi^nos hedgehog, sea urchin + ko`kkos grain, seed, berry. So called because forming little granular bodies, each armed with hooklets and disposed upon the inner wall ...

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
The genus Echinococcus includes six parasite species of cyclophyllid tapeworms to date, of the family Taeniidae . Infection with Echinococcus results in hydatid disease , also known as echinococcosis. Echinococcus is triploblastic – it has three layers ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. tapeworms whose larvae are parasitic in humans and domestic animals [also: echinococci (pl)]