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
1
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.
2
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
3
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.
4
• 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.
5
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.
6
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
7
• 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.
