Cestodes Flashcards
Cestode morphology
Flat, solid-bodied and segmented, with a scolex, neck, and strobila; they lack a digestive tract
What type of life cycle do cestodes have?
Indirect life cycles with at least 1 intermediate host
Describe the sexuality of cestodes
Hermaphrodites - sexual +/- asexual reproduction (depends on the larval stage)
How do Cyclophyllideans differ from Pseudophyllideans?
What is a metacestode?
The larval stage of cestodes
Describe the differences between the various metacestode stages of cyclophyllideans
Within a hydatid cyst, what can you find many of?
Endogenous cysts
Describe Dipylidium caninum (cucumber seed tapeworm)
- DH: canids, felids, humans - ZOONOTIC
- Habitat: SI
- Morph:
- Adults - up to 50 cm long, armed scolex, 4 suckers, bilateral genital pores
- Egg packets contain multiple eggs, each 45 um—> hexacanth embryo
Describe the Dipylidium life cycle
- Gravid proglottids break off in SI, are passed in feces or actively crawl out
- Proglottids rupture, release egg packets
- Eggs ingested by IH
- Larval fleas
- Chewing louse of dogs
- Eggs develop into infective cysticercoid
- IH ingested by DH (dog, cat, human)
- Scolex attaches to SI, grows
- Self- or cross-fertilization occurs
- PPP = 2-3 weeks
Describe the disease caused by Dipylidium caninum
- Usually non-pathogenic
- typically “scooting across the floor”
Describe Taeniid tapeworms
- Large worms
- are armed - rostellum with double row of small + large hooks
- have proglottids longer than they are wide
- have single genital pore per proglottids (irregularly alternating)
- have characteristic taeniid-type egg
- embyrophore is brown and radially striated
- Hexacanth embryo with 6 hooklets
- live in SI as adults
- are more pathogenic as metacestode than as adults
Describe the general Taeniid life cycle
- Adult tapeworms attached to SI
- Gravid proglottids pass in feces or migrate out
- rupture releases eggs
- IH ingests egg —> oncosphere hatches, penetrates SI mucosa —>enters circulation
- Metacestode develops in various organs/tissues
- DH ingests IH
- Scolex released, attaches to SI and grows
Describe Taeniid taeniaeformis
- DH: cats, other felids
- IH: Rats, mice, other small rodents —> liver
- Morph:
- Adults - 60 cm long, armed, 4 suckers
- Strobilocercus
- Disease: Heavy infection — obstruction reported
What are these?
T. Taenoiaformis eggs
What is this parasite?
T. Taeniaformis strobilicercus in liver
Describe Taeniid pisiformis (rabbit tapeworm)
- DH: Dogs
- IH: rabbits, hares, occasionally rodents - peritoneal cavities
- Morph:
- Adults: 200 cm long, armed, 4 suckers
- Cysticercus = pea sized
- Disease: Heavy infection - constipation, ill thrift, pot-belly