article_snippet: The Echinococcus multilocularis parasite is a small tapeworm.
article_snippet: The Echinococcus multilocularis parasite eggs can cause alveolar echinococcosis (AE) - a disease in humans brought on if a person swallows the tapeworm's eggs.
article_snippet: Beavers may also pick up the tapeworm's eggs from Beavers surroundings.
article_snippet: Humans can be exposed to the tapeworm's eggs by 'hand-to-mouth' transfer or contamination.