PARASITOLOGY MORPHOLOGY AND LIFE CYCLE NOTES

(CESTODES) • ADULTS

PHYLUM – Platyhelminthes ➢ Possess anterior (head) region

known as scolex
CLASS - Cestoda
➢ Numerous segments with
INTESTINAL SPECIES
reproductive capabilities known
Taenia saginata – Beef tapeworm as proglottids

Taenia solium – Pork tapeworm • EGGS

Hymenolepis diminuta – Rat tapeworm ➢ With two exceptions, consist of

hexacanth embryo
Hymenolepis nana – Dwarf tapeworm
• Ingestion of a single tapeworm egg
Dipylidium caninum – Dog/cat tapeworm
allows life cycle to continue.
Diphyllobothrium latum – Broad fish tapeworm

INTESTINAL-EXTRAINTESTINAL SPECIES Taenia saginata/Taenia solium

Echinococcus granulosus - Dog/hydatid
EGG
Tapeworm

KEY DEFINITIONS

Cestodes - Group of worms characterized by

flat, segmented adult worms that resemble
tape measures

Gravid - Pregnant

Hermaphroditic- Self-fertilizing; both male and

female sex organs are present in the same adult
worm section called a proglottid

Hexacanth embryo - Motile, first larval stage

characterized by the presence of six small hooks
(hooklets) arranged in pairs that are believed to
pierce the intestinal wall of the host

Proglottid - Individual segment of adult

tapeworm that when mature houses both male
and female reproductive organs that are able to
mate and produce eggs

Rostellum - Fleshy extension of select

tapeworm scolices

Scolex (pl. scolices) - The anterior end of an

adult tapeworm that typically possesses cup-
shaped suckers for purpose of intestinal
attachment

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SCOLICES

Taenia solium

ADULTS
Taenia saginata

Taenia solium

PROGLOTTIDS
LIFE CYLCE NOTES

• Human infection is initiated by consuming

raw/undercooked beef (T. saginata) or pork
(T. solium) contaminated with cysticercus
larva.

• Adult worms emerge and attach to

intestinal mucosa.

• Self-reproduction in numerous eggs, some

of which may be passed into the feces.

• Cows or pigs consume appropriate

contaminated eggs.

• Infective cysticercus larvae forms in animal

Taenia saginata tissue and is then ready for next cycle to
begin.

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LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Hymenolepis diminuta
• Specimen of choice is stool.

• Eggs and gravid proglottids EGG

• Scolex only seen after treatment
• Since eggs identical, must recover
gravid proglottid or scolex to speciate

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS

• Taeniasis (beef or pork tapeworm

infection)

Nondescript symptoms

✓ Diarrhea

✓ Abdominal pain

✓ Change in appetite

✓ Slight weight loss

✓ Dizziness

✓ Vomiting

✓ Nausea

✓ Moderate eosinophilia

TREATMENT

• Praziquantel (treatment of choice)

• Alternative treatments:

✓ Paramomycin
✓ Quinacrine hydrochloride

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

• Exercising proper sanitation practices

• Thorough cooking of beef and pork

Scolex

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 CLINICAL SYMPTOMS

• Asymptomatic

• Hymenolepiasis: rat tapeworm disease

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Abdominal pain

• Anorexia

Hymenolepis nana
Proglottid
EGG
ADULT

LIFE CYCLE NOTES

• Typically a parasite of rats

• Intermediate host – grain beetle or flea

• Beetle or flea ingest contaminated rat

droppings.

• Development of cysticercoid larva occurs in

insect host.

• Consumption of contaminated insects that

reside in grains or cereal by a rat allows
process to continue.

• Rats host adult worms that ultimately

produce eggs many of which are excreted in
feces

• Human infection is accidental via

consumption of contaminated grains or
cereal and takes the place of the rat in the
life cycle.

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 • Resulting eggs may be passed out in the
stool or initiate an autoreinfection.

• Eggs in outside environment mature to

infective stage for new cycle to begin.

• No intermediate host is required.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

• Eggs in stool samples

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS

• Hymnologists: dwarf tapeworm disease

Gastrointestinal symptoms:

 Abdominal pain
Scolex
 Anorexia

 Diarrhea

 Dizziness

 Headache

TREATMENT

• Praziquantel

Dipilydium caninum
Proglottid EGG PACKET
ADULT

LIFE CYCLE NOTES

• Human infection initiated following

ingestion of infective eggs.

• Adults form in intestinal mucosa.

• Eggs emerge following gravid proglottid

disintegration.

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 LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

• Egg packets or gravid proglottids in stool

samples

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS

• Dipylidiasis: dog/cat tapeworm Disease

• Appetite loss

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal discomfort

• Indigestion

• Anal pruritis

TREATMENT
Prolottid • Praziquantel – treatment of choice
ADULT • Alternates – niclosamide (if available) and
paramycin

Diphyllobothrium latum
EGG

LIFE CYCLE NOTES

• Primarily a parasite of dogs and cats

(humans are accidental hosts)

• Humans ingest contaminated fleas via the

lick of an infected dog/cat or hand-to-
mouth contamination.

• Adult worms emerge that self-fertilize.

• Egg packets and gravid proglottids may be

passed into the stool.

• For cycle to continue, the eggs must be

ingested by a dog or cat flea.

• Humans take the place of a dog or cat in

this cycle.

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ADULT • Adult worm self-fertilizes.

• Undeveloped eggs pass in stool.

• On contact with fresh water, the eggs

hatch, and free-swimming larvae emerge
(coracidium).

• Larvae are ingested by the first

intermediate host.

• Copepod (water flea)

• Larval stage known as procercoid occurs in

copepod.

• Infected copepod ingested by second

intermediate host – freshwater fish.

• Once inside the fish, procercoid larvae

develop into pleurocercoid larvae in the
muscle tissue.

• Now the larvae are ready to initiate a new

cycle.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

• Diphyllobothriasis: fish tapeworm

infection

• Digestive discomfort
Scolex
• Overall weakness

• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain

• Vitamin B12 deficiency

TREATMENT

• Praziquantel

• Niclosamide

Proglottid

LIFE CYCLE NOTES

• Relatively complex – requires two

intermediate hosts

• Human infection occurs when pleurocercoid

(precursor larval stage) is ingested in
contaminated freshwater fish that are raw
or undercooked

• Scolex emerges in small intestine

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 • Dogs (or wild canines) contract the parasite
Echinococcus granulosus by consuming infected sheep viscera.

• Adult worms form in dogs.

HYATID CYST
• Eggs get passed into the environment and
can initiate a new cycle.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

• Hydatid cyst fluid (Examine for presence of

scolices, daughter cysts, brood capsules, or
hydatid sand)

• Serologic tests

• Radiography

• CT scan

• Ultrasound

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS

• Echinococcus: hydatid cyst/hydatid

disease/hydatidosis

• Symptoms vary based on size and

location of hydatid cyst

• Typically little if any discomfort for

approximately 1 year or more after
ADULT ingesting eggs

• Lung involvement

✓ Chest pain

✓ Coughing

✓ Shortness of breath

• Liver involvement

✓ May result in obstructive

LIFE CYCLE NOTES jaundice
• Humans are accidental hosts. TREATMENT
• Humans ingest eggs by contact with • Historical treatment of choice: surgical
infected dog feces. removal when possible
• Larvae emerge and penetrate intestine; • Advent of anti-parasitic medications now
larvae migrate via bloodstream to tissue offers an alternative when appropriate.
sites. (Liver, lung)
• Mebendazole
• Hydatid cyst develops.
• Albendozole
• Cycle ceases.
• Praziquantel
• Typical intermediate host – sheep (or other
herbivores)

• In sheep, hydatid cyst forms in viscera after

ingestion of infected dog feces.