Beware! Your pet love can give you a killer disease

Hyderabad: A retired Army man from Warangal was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad recently for a condition called Hydatid cysts, which is caused by tapeworms present in the intestines of dogs. It is suspected that the tapeworms were transmitted through the food chain.

Two large cysts, were found in the interventricular septum or the stout wall separating the lower chambers of the heart.

The 2-D Echo test showed the cysts which were filled with fluid. Parasites keep on increasing inside and as they enlarge, they start affecting the host, causing uneasiness or pain.

The cysts were detected in a health check-up after the 37-year-old army man complained of hypertension and uneasiness.

The tapeworms enter the body via food, water or close proximity to animals such as dogs and sheep. In this case, the patient didn't have any pet at home and doctors suspect that it could be due to contamination of water or food.

Dr K.V. Krishna Kumar, senior cardio-thoracic surgeon at KIMS Hospital, where the surgery was carried out, explained, “The formation of these cysts inside the heart region is very rare. We have so far only seen four such cases in India. It is very common to find these cysts in the lung and liver region.”

Human transmission is by ingesting the eggs of the parasite, eating food or drinking water that is soiled with dog faeces. Those who have pets at home are also exposed to this kind of transmission from the pet to human beings.

“Person to person transmission of this disease does not occur,” Dr Kumar said.

Medical history shows that cardiac involvement in hydatid disease is only 0.5 to 2 per cent.

The cysts were removed by doing by-pass surgery. The patient is stable but has been asked to not eat raw foods and also to ensure that the food is properly cooked before consuming it.