Eating foods (usually wild berries and herbs) or dinking water that has been contaminated with the stool of an infected coyote, fox, dog, or cat.Although it is not known how most people with AE became infected, the most common ways of getting AE appear to be : Adult tapeworms do not cause any symptoms or health problems in the coyote, fox, dog, or cat. These leave the animal in their stool, starting the lifecycle all over again. When coyotes, foxes, dogs, or cats eat an infected rodent, the larvae grow into the adult tapeworms in the animal's intestine. When rodents eat the eggs in the environment, the rodents can then be infected. The eggs can live in the environment for up to a year. The tapeworm's eggs are spread in the environment by the stool of infected coyotes, foxes, dogs, and cats. But even in places in North America where the tapeworm is common in animals, it’s rare that people get it. They often live close to houses and parks, which can put people and their pets at higher risk of exposure to this tapeworm. Research in Alberta has shown that many coyotes and foxes can have the E. Since 2013, there have been a small number of reported cases in the province. The risk of people getting AE in Alberta is very low. This can cause a rare disease called alveolar echinococcosis (AE). multi by accidentally swallowing tapeworm eggs from contaminated food or water, or from handling infected animals. It is spread in the environment by the stool (poop) of infected animals. multil) is a tapeworm that lives in coyotes, foxes, and sometimes dogs and cats.