Definition

A disease caused by the infestation of certain tapeworms known as echinococci, which can affect various organs in the body.

Example

Echinococcosis can lead to serious health complications if not treated properly.

Conversation

I read an article about echinococcosis and it sounded really concerning.

Yeah, it's a serious infection caused by a type of tapeworm, right?

Exactly! I didn't realize how common it could be in certain areas.

It's definitely something to be aware of, especially if you have pets.

Root Explanation

Echinococcosis is formed from "echinococcus" (from Greek "echinos", meaning spiny or hedgehog, and "kokkos", meaning seed) and the suffix "-osis" (meaning a condition or disease). The term refers to a disease caused by the Echinococcus parasite, which is named for its spiny appearance.

Memory Tip

Think of the spiny appearance of the Echinococcus parasite ('echinococcus') and remember that 'echinococcosis' refers to the condition caused by this parasite.

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