Clinical Parasitology

Cestodes (TAPEWORMS)

• Taenia solium • Dipylidium caninum

• Taenia saginata • Echinococcus granulosus
• Hymenolepis nana • Diphyllobothrium latum
• Hymenolepis diminuta

General Characteristics of Cestodes

1. Adults are white and yellowish in color; flat and ribbon-like in appearance
2. Adults are composed of
a. Anterior attachment organ: head(scolex)-most important part of tapeworm
b. The region of growth: neck
c. Chain of segments or proglottids: strobila

Taenia spp
Mode of Transmission: ingestion
Diagnostic Stage: eggs and proglottids
Taenia solium Taenia saginata
Scolex (head) • Four acetabula • Four acetabula
• Spherical in shape • Quadrate in shape
• Rostellum with double crown of • No rostellum and hooks
hooks
Proglottids • Longer than wide • Longer than wide
• Uterus has 7-15 lateral branches • Uterus has 15-20 lateral
branches
Infective Stage  cysticercus cellulose  cysticercus bovis
 Cysticercosis possible  Cysticercosis not possible
Intermediate host  pig/ swine  cow/ cattle

- Ingestion of undercooked or raw

Cysticercosis
• Caused by ingestion of Taenia solium eggs (because T.saginata can’t do cystercosis)
• In this case the man has served as the dead-end intermediate host where the cysticercus develops
Notes on Taenia species
a. Irritated by alcohol
b. Uterine branches can be demonstrated using India Ink
c. 3rd species of Taenia is known as T.asiatica (can be seen in Taiwan)

Taenia saginata Taenia solium

- No difference between their eggs

Diphyllobothrium latum
Common Name: broad / fish tapeworm
Disease Associated: B12 Deficiency triggered macrocytic hormochromic anemia
Mode of Transmission: Ingestion
Infective stage: Plerocercoid
Diagnostic Stage: Eggs and proglottids in stool
Intermediate host: Copepads or fishes
Hymenolepis nana
Common Name: dwarf tapeworm
Mode of Transmission: ingestion
Infective stage: direct- ova, indirect- cysticercoid
Diagnostic Stage: ova in stool
Intermediate host: Rice and flour beetles
- Autoinfection is possible

Hymenolepis diminuta
Common Name: Rat tapeworm
Mode of Transmission: ingestion
Infective stage: cysticeroid
Diagnostic Stage: eggs in stool
Intermediate host: fleas, beetles, cockroaches, mealworm, earwigs
Host: rats and humans
- H.diminuta has circular egg while H.nana has oblong in shape
Dipylidium caninum
Common Name: double-pored tapeworm, dog tapeworm
Mode of Transmission: ingestion
Infective stage: cysticercoid
Diagnostic Stage: proglottids in stool
Intermediate host: dog fleas (garapata)
Echinococcus granulosus
Definitive Host: Dogs
Intermediate host: herbivores
Mode of Transmission: ingestion
Infective stage: embryonated egg
Diagnostic Stage: hydatid cyst in tissue
Accidental Intermediate Host: Human
shortest but deadliest tapeworm for humans from unhygienic behavior (by not washing of hands)