echinococcus

/ɪˌkaɪnoʊˈkɑkəs/
noun
  1. A type of small tapeworm that can cause serious disease in humans and animals, especially in the liver or lungs.
    • Infection with echinococcus can lead to cysts in the liver that require surgery.
    • Farmers in some regions are taught how to prevent the spread of echinococcus to their families.
    • The doctor explained that echinococcus is a parasite found in dogs and livestock.