echinococci

Plural of echinococcus. Echinococci fer (e-ki-nō-kok'si-fer), n. [NL., The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: Dictionary echinococcus the so-called hydatids occurring in the liver, brain, etc., of man and other animals; the hydatid form of the wandered scolex of Tania echinococcus, having deutoscolices or daughter cysts formed by gemmation. This hydatid is that of the tapeworm of the dog, having several tænia-heads in the cyst; it may occur in man, commonly in the liver, giving rise to very serious disease. The word was originally a genus name, given by Rudolphi before the relationship to Tania was known; it is now used as the name of the larval stage of the tapeworm whose specific name is the same. See cut under Tænia,. In Echinococcus the structure of the cystic worm is complicated by its proliferation, the result of which is the formation of many bladder-worms, inclosed one within the other, and contained in a strong laminated sac or cyst, apparently of a chitinous nature, secreted by the parasite. Huxley , Anat. Invert., p. 186.