Exam I - Dipylidium caninum Flashcards
What is the common name for Dipylidium caninum?
Common tapeworm, cucumber tapeworm, flea tapeworm, etc…
To which taxonomic order does Dipylidium caninum belong?
Cyclophylidea
To which taxonomic class does Dipylidium caninum belong?
Cestoda
What is/are the final host(s) for Dipylidium caninum?
dogs, cats, and occasionally humans
What is/are the intermediate host(s) for Dipylidium caninum?
the flea- (Ctenocephalides felis/canis) and the louse - (Trichodectes canis)
What is the maximum length for a Dipylidium caninum adult?
~ 50 cm
Describe the appearance of the Dipylidium caninum adult
Maximum length is 50 cm. Proglottid easily recognized, being elongate, like a large rice grain when dry and cucumber seeds when still fresh.
Each proglottid has 2 sets of reproductive organs with bilateral genital pores.
Describe the appearance of the Dipylidium caninum egg
Egg packets (230 x 170 um) contain 10-20 eggs (each 35-40 um)
Remember Dipylidium caninum because the eggs are fucking huge!
Is the Dipylidium caninum life cycle direct or indirect?
Indirect.
Describe the life cycle of Dipylidium caninum
- Newly passed segments are active, and can crawl about the tail region of the animal. The oncospheres are contained in egg packets or capsules, each with about 20 eggs.
- These are expelled by the active segment or released by active disintegration.
- After ingestion by the intermediate host, the oncospheres travel to the abdominal cavity and develop into cystercercoids.
- All stages of the louse can ingest the oncospheres, but the adult flea with its mouthparts adapted for piercing cannot do so and infection is only acquired during the larval stage, which has chewing mouthparts.
- Development in the louse takes 30 days. Development in the flea takes several months. The final host is infected by ingestion of the flea or louse containing the cystercercoids.
- PPP is 21 days.
What is/are the site(s) of infection for Dipylidium caninum?
Adult tapeworms in small intestine. Larval stage (cystercercoid) in flea and louse.
The larval stage of Dipylidium caninum is called:
cystercercoid
Describe the pathogenesis associated with Dipylidium caninum
Adults are largely non-pathogenic
Describe some clinical signs associated with Dipylidium caninum
Dogs may scoot or rub their anus along the floor