Lifecycle of hyatid cysts in humans and animals: parasitic infections in Kenya. Colour lithograph, ca. 2000.

Images include from top an African woman passing infected meat to a dog; the dog becomes the carrier of the parasite which it passes on through infected faeces to humans; dogs feeding from dead infected human carcass. Bottom images show transfer of the parasite between animals

Hyatid cysts are caused by the tapeworm echinococcus granulosus. This parasite, which lives mainly in dogs, enters the body as larvae. This is likely to happen when handling an infected animal or eat food or drink water contaminated by its faeces. The larvae travel in the bloodstream and lodge in organs to form cysts. The liver is most commonly affected (70% of hydatid cysts form there), followed by the lungs, brain and bones. (Source: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk)

[Kenya] : [publisher not identified], [2000?]

1 print : lithograph, printed in colours ; sheet 58.6 x 45.7 cm

Wellcome Collection 755676i

ca. 2000 10/08/2011 Kenya UkLW Transcription from the item