What's Old Is New: Echinococcus and Trypanosoma in Companion Animals.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan etiologic agent of Chagas disease, was first described in 1909 by Carlos Chagas and remains one of the most important zoonotic parasitic pathogens in the Americas. Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis are emerging zoonotic tapeworms and the causative agents of cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. Collectively, echinococcosis affects millions of people worldwide and are considered one of the 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases by the World Health Organization with low mortality and high morbidity rates. Dogs are clinically relevant veterinary hosts because they increase the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans.