The sheepâs brain is an extremely dangerous parasite from the class of tapeworms. It affects the central nervous system of humans and animals, causing the formation of cysts in the brain and spinal cord. In humans, this helminth is quite rare, more often it lives in the body of sheep and dogs. However, the probability of human infection cannot be completely ruled out. Such helminth invasion without treatment has an extremely unfavorable prognosis, and most often only surgery can save a patient's life.
Pathogen Description
The body of an adult sheepâs brain reaches a size of 50 cm. Like many other tapeworms, its body consists of many segments. At one end of the body is a head (scolex) equipped with hooks. With their help, the parasite attaches to the intestinal wall of the final host.
Helminth larva exists in the form of a cyst. It looks like a bubble, inside of which there are scolexes. Such formations are called tsenur. Inside each bubble can be from a few pieces to hundreds of heads. The size of the cyst is 2-6 cm.
The prices are very stable. They can live in the brain of a deceased animal for up to 7 days at a plus temperature and up to 3 days in frost.
Life cycle
Adult helminths parasitize in the body of their final owners: wolves, foxes, dogs and other representatives of the canine family. In this case, the parasite lives in the intestine, and its eggs are excreted along with feces.
Who is the intermediate host for the sheepâs brain? Most often they become sheep, cows, goats and other domestic ruminants, in very rare cases - people. In intermediate hosts, not adult worms live in the body, but larvae that form tsenur.
The final hosts secrete parasite eggs along with feces into the environment. From there, they enter the body of intermediate hosts. Cattle and small cattle become infected by eating contaminated grass or drinking water.
After the helminth egg enters the intermediate host, the development cycle of the sheepâs brain begins. The parasite penetrates the intestines, then with the help of special devices it enters the bloodstream. Helminth eggs are spread across all organs, but their main goal is the brain and spinal cord. It is there that the larva emerges, which then forms a cyst. In goats, censorship can occur not only in the brain, but also in other organs.
Canine animals become infected by eating the heads of dead sheep. In the body of dogs, foxes and wolves, the larva turns into an adult and parasitizes in the intestines. Helminth lays eggs that go out with feces. After this, the life cycle of the sheepâs brain is repeated.
This helminth very rarely selects a person as an intermediate host. Indeed, in this case, the development cycle of the parasite is interrupted. People do not secrete eggs or parasite larvae. Tsenura is located in the human brain and never turns into an adult.
Infection pathways
How does a person become infected with sheepâs eggs? People get invasion by contact with sick dogs. This often happens with poor hand washing. Touching objects contaminated with animal feces, a person can get invasion.
You can get infected by stroking the dog. Helminth eggs are also found on the tongue and hair of animals. Of course, pets rarely have such a parasite. But stray dogs may well become infected when they eat sheep.
It is important to remember that the sheepâs brain is an extremely dangerous parasite. The formation of cysts in the brain is accompanied by severe neurological symptoms. The risk of death is very high.
Symptoms in animals
What disease does the sheep brain cause in sheep? In people, this disease is called "twirling", and in medicine and veterinary medicine - coenurosis. An infected animal makes strange and meaningless movements in a circle. It is with this that the household name of the disease is associated. This symptom is a consequence of the formation of cysts in the brain and spinal cord. Other manifestations of invasion in farm animals are noted:
- disorientation;
- loss of coordination of movements;
- constant bulging of the head;
- cramps
- timidity (at the initial stage of the disease).
Ill sheep, goats and cows die several months after infection. Rescue animals can only surgical removal of tsenur from the brain.
In dogs, coenurosis occurs as intestinal helminthic invasion. No animal deaths from this disease have been reported. The usual anthelmintic therapy helps to get rid of the parasite. Coenurosis is dangerous only for small puppies, in young helminths can cause intestinal obstruction.
Symptoms in humans
People very rarely suffer from coenurosis. But this disease is just as dangerous for them as it is for sheep. Without treatment, such a pathology leads to death.
The first signs of the disease occur 2-3 months after the ingestion of the eggs of the sheepâs brain. The leading symptom of the disease is persistent headache. A cyst in the brain presses on its shell and leads to intracranial hypertension. The pain is bursting and is accompanied by the following pathological manifestations:
- nausea and vomiting;
- dizziness
- cramps
- disorientation in space;
- loss of consciousness.
The severity of symptoms increases with the growth of the cyst.
If censorship is formed in the spinal cord, then there are pains in the neck and spine, impaired function of the pelvic organs, difficulty walking and movement disorders.
Diagnostics
A person does not always associate headaches with a parasitic disease. Moreover, after contact with a sick dog, several months pass before the first signs of pathology appear. Diagnosis of coenurosis is a rather difficult task. After all, such a parasite cannot be detected in the analysis of feces, like ordinary intestinal worms.
When diagnosing coenurosis, the following studies are prescribed:
- Ultrasound of the brain;
- MRI and CT of the spinal cord and brain;
- echoencephalogram.
Using these methods, you can detect the presence of a cyst and its localization.
A thorough neurological examination of the patient is necessary. With coenurosis, the patient determines the tension of the muscles of the neck. Carrying out a Kerning test: the doctor bends the patient's leg in the knee and hip joint. With coenurosis, the patient cannot straighten the limb on its own. This is a sign of irritation of the meninges.
Treatment
Treatment of coenurosis is carried out by surgical methods. The doctor removes a worm cyst from the patientâs brain. This is the most effective method of treatment, which radically relieves a person of the parasite.
But there are times when a heavy neurosurgical operation is contraindicated in a patient. Then the patient is prescribed anthelmintic drugs:
- "Biltricid";
- Albendazole
- "Fenbendazole;
- Niclozamide.
These drugs lead to the death of the parasite inside the cyst. At the same time, a course of therapy with corticosteroid hormones is carried out to prevent inflammation and allergic reactions.
Prevention
Coenurosis is easier to prevent than to cure. To avoid such a dangerous disease, you must observe personal hygiene and caution in contact with dogs. Communication with stray animals is best avoided.
The heads of farm animals killed by coenurosis are supposed to be burned and buried deep in the ground. This is to prevent dogs, wolves and foxes from eating them. Thus, the further spread of invasion is prevented.
Despite the fact that domestic dogs rarely suffer from coenurosis, they are advised to periodically conduct a course of deworming. This will help to avoid many dangerous parasitic diseases that can be transmitted to humans.