6.08 Cestodes Flashcards
Class Cestoda common name
tapeworms
Class Cestoda: Genuses/species of importance to us
- Taenia spp.*
- Echinococcus spp.*
- Dipylidium caninum*
Cestodes; Definitive vs Intermediate hosts; host specificity, replication, pathogenicity
Definitive Hosts
* usually highly host specific
* do not replicate in DH
* usually NOT overtly pathogenic as adults
Intermediate Hosts
* usually host specific (but exceptions)
* usually a prey species
* may be pathogenic to IH’s
Cestodes; Morphology - Adults
- some small (a few mm in length)
- most large (measured in meters)
- 3 body regions
- scolex (holdfast)
- neck (germinal region)
- strobila (chain of developing segments)
- no mouth or digestive tract - absorb nutrients
- hermaphroditic
Cestodes; Morphology - Eggs
- hexacanth embryo fully developed within embryophore
- eggs shed in feces or, more commonly, shed into
environment within degenerating segments - morphology varies according to type of tapeworm (e.g. taenids, hymenolepids, etc.)
Cestodes; do all have the same immature stages?
great variety of forms that vary by tapeworm group and intermediate host infected
Cestodes; how many intermediate hosts?
- most species only have a single intermediate host (the prey item)
- some (usually tapeworms using aquatic hosts) incorporate a second IH
Cestodes; General Life Cycle
- usually indirect (except Hymenolepsis nana)
- eggs (free or in gravid segments) in feces
- hexacanth embryo infects IH
- embryo migrates to final site of development and transforms into infective form
- transmission occurs when the IH is eaten
- scolex of juvenile tapeworm attaches to gut and matures (begins to produce eggs)
Taenia pisiformis
Rabbit Tapeworm
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; General Features; what is the adult host? larval host? transfer of stages?
- a typical taeniid tapeworm (example for all Taenia species)
- adult tapeworms infect small intestine of dogs
- the larva (a cysticercus) infects rabbits
- predator-prey transfer of stages
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; Morphology - Adults
- shiny white strobila, up to 2 meters long
- scolex with 4 suckers and 2 rows of hooks on the rostellum
- single genital pore on each rectangular segment
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; Morphology - Egg
- typical “taeniid-type” egg, ~ 40 μm
- has a thick radially striated embryophore
(shell) - found as single eggs (not in groups like
Dipylidium)
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; Morphology - Larva
- a cysticercus (“Cysticercus pisiformis”)
- fluid filled bladder containing invaginated scolex
- “bladder worm” usually surrounded by host cyst
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; life cycle
- a typical predator-prey life cycle
- eggs released from segments are ingested by the IH
- hexacanth larva hatches and migrates to the peritoneal cavity or liver to mature to a cysticercus
- when a dog eats the rabbit, the scolex in the cysticercus evaginates, attaches to the gut and begins to form a strobila
- PPP - 6 to 8 weeks
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; Pathogenesis/Lesions/Clinical Signs
- non-pathogenic
- presence of motile gravid segments in feces or perianal regions (rarely, eggs in feces)
Taenia pisiformis - Rabbit Tapeworm; Treatment/Prevention
- specific cestodicides - praziquantel (Droncit®), nitroscanate (Lopatol®), epsiprantel (Cestex®)
- prevent hunting to block transmission
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; General Features; hosts, transfer of stages
- felids as definitive hosts
- infects the small intestine
- rodents (especially rats and mice) as IH
- found predominantly in liver
- predator-prey transfer of stages
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; Morphology - Adults
- scolex with 4 suckers and 2 rows of hooks on the rostellum; strobila up to 60 cm long
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; Morphology - Larva
- a strobilocercus (“Cysticercus fasciolaris”)
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; Morphology - Eggs
- typical taeniid eggs
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; life cycle
- similar in most respects to Taenia pisiformis
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; Pathogenesis/Lesions/Clinical Signs
- non-pathogenic
Taenia taeniaeformis - Rat Tapeworm; Treatment/Prevention
- specific cestodicides - praziquantel (Droncit®), nitroscanate (Lopatol®), epsiprantel (Cestex®)
- prevent hunting to block transmission
Taenia crassiceps; General Features; hosts, how it amplifies infections, threat to humans
- predator-prey cycle (foxes and groundhogs)
- budding cysticercus amplifies infections
- zoonotic threat if dog becomes infected (hunts)