Spirometra spp. (2) Flashcards
What is the common name?
Zipperworm
What are the final hosts?
Dogs
Cats
Wild canids
Bobcats
Lynxes
Raccoons
What are the intermediate hosts?
1st intermediate hosts: Copepod crustacean
2nd intermediate hosts:
- Frogs - Snakes - Reptiles - NOT Fish
Describe adults
Up to 2 m long
Scolex with bothria
Reproductive organs at centers of segments where eggs are discharged
Describe eggs
Operculate
60 micro m
Explain life cycle
Eggs develop in water to a coracidium
Coracidium ingested by first IH, a copepod crustacean and procercoid develops
Ingested by second IH (water snake, etc.) and procercoids migrate to muscles or viscera to form plerocercoid
Final host ingests infected second
IH and adult tapeworms develop
What is the site of infection for adults?
Small intestine
What are the sites of infection in larvae?
In 2 IH
Describe the Pathogenesis
Not an issue in FH
Humans infected by consuming Copepods with procercoids in contaminated water or 2nd IH with plerocercoid
Rare: Plerocercoid can be transferred from IH to humans via poultice
Plerocercoid and procercoids migrate around the subcutaneous connective tissue in humans - causes sparganosis
How do you diagnose?
Eggs in feces confused with Fasciola hepatica but are half the size
How do you treat and prevent?
Treat the tapeworm in final host with cestocide
Where infection common, avoid feeding products derived from intermediate host to domestic animals unless thoroughly cooked
What is important about Spirometra spp.?
It is ZOONOTIC
