Comment on the status of Echinococcus granulosus in the UK

Echinococcus granulosus is composed of a complex of strains, the status of which has caused controversy and doubt. All have different characteristics which have arisen from animal husbandry practices, resulting in isolation and restriction of gene flow, and/or from the reproductive characteristics of the organisms. Whatever the mechanism for strain variation, Don McManus, Alan Lymbery and Andrew Thompson have no doubts that distinct variants occur in spite of a recent publication that suggests there is only one form of E. granulosus in the UK.