Echinococcus multilocularis is a cyclophylli cestode that, like Echinococcus granulosus, produces hydatid disease in many mammals, including rodents and humans. Unlike E. granulosus, E multilocularis produces many small cysts ("multilocular infection") that spread throughout the infected animal. When these cysts are ingested by a canid, usually by eating an infected rodent, it produces heavy infection with tapeworm adults.