Tapeworms of Cats + Dogs Flashcards
What taenia tapeworms are dogs the definitive host?
Taenia ovis
Taenia hydatigena
Taenia multiceps
Taemia pisiformis
Taenia serialis
What are the non taenia tapeworms dogs are definitve hosts of?
Echinococcus granulosus
Echinococcus multilocularis
Dipylidium caninum
What tapeworms are cats the definitive hosts of?
Taenia taeniformis
Where are Taenia spp found?
adult worms in small intestines of carnivores
What size are taenia tapeworms?
5-30cm
What do taenia eggs look like?
Thick embryophore, hexacanth embryo - 40um diameter
-round
What is the pre patent period of taenia?
4-10weeks
What tapeworms in dogs have sheep as the intermediate hosts?
T. ovis
T. hydatigena
T. multiceps
Echinococcus. granulosus
What tapeworms in dogs have rabbits as the intermediate hosts?
T. pisiformis
T. serialis
What are the sections of tapeworms called?
Proglottids
Where is T. ovis found?
Cysticercus in muscles
Where is T. hydatigena found?
Cysticercus in peritoneum
Where is T. multiceps found?
Coenurus in brain
Where is T. pisifromis found?
Cysticercus in peritoneum
Where is T. serialis found?
Coenurus in connective tissue
What is the intermediate host of T. taeniaformis?
Mouse
Where are T. taeniaeformis found?
Cysticercus in liver
(60cm adult)
What is the pre patent period of T. taeniformis
4 weeks
What are the difference between taenia + ecchinococcus eggs?
No difference
exactly the same
What are clinical signs of taenia in dogs?
Rarely any signs
Anal pruritus
How is Taenia diagnosed?
*Faecal sample - eggs / proglottids
How is Taenia spp treated?
*Praziquantel to remove adults
*Control access to intermediate host
What is the intermediate host of Dipylidium caninum?
*Ctenocephalides felis - flea
*Trichodectes canis - canine chewing louse
What are features of Dipylidium caninum?
*50cm
*4 unarmed suckers
*two genital pores on each proglottid
*Egg capsules contain 10-15eggs each
What is the life cycle of D. caninum?
- Adult tapeworm in SI of Cat/dog - PPP 3-4wks
2.Proglottids passed in faeces - disintegrate + eggs released
3.Eggs eaten by flea larvae (Ctenocephalides felis) - oncospheres hatch + develop into cysticercoids in body cavity of adult flea
- Infected adult flea eaten as animal grooms
How is D. caninum controlled?
*Praziquantel
*Flea control
What echinococcus species is found in the UK?
Echinococcus granulosus
What is the most common tapeworm of dogs+cats
Dipylidium caninum
What type of metacestode does echinococcus spp have?
Hydatid cyst
What are features of Echinococcus spp?
*Adult tapeworm - v small 5mm
*Only 3 proglottids
*Final proglottid = largest + gravid - shed in faeces
What size are echinococcus eggs?
40um
What are the intermediate hosts of echinococcus granulosus?
*sheep
*cattle
*camels
What is the typical host of echinococcus multilocularis?
Fox
How does human echinococcosis occur?
Infection by ingesting eggs from dogs in contaminated soil, water , food
What are the possible symptoms in human echonococcosis?
*location dependent
*Jaundice, cholangitis, abdominal pain
*Pleurisy
*Rupture of cyst = fever, eosinophilia + anaphylactic reaction
Why is E. multilocularis a concern?
*50-75% mortality rate in humans
*Asymptomatic incubation for 5-15yrs
*Invade + destroy tissue - pain, weight loss, malaise, liver failure
*Tumour like lesion in liver - metastasize to lungs + brain
How is echinococcus spp in humans diagnosed?
*Ultrasonography imaging + CT/MRI scans
*Serology
What causes cystic + alveolar echinococcosis?
Cystic - Echinococcus granulosus
Alveolar - Echiococcus multilocularis
How is cystic + alveolar echinococcosis treated?
Cystic = drug tx, surgery + Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, Re-aspiration technique.
Alveolar = early dx + radical surgery followed by albendazole
How is Echinococcosis controlled in humans?
*Control disease in definitive + intermediate hosts
*Improve hygiene at slaughterhouse
*Education programmes
Describe typical features of adult Taenia spp.
Large worms (30cm-2.5m), with 4 suckers and a rostellum that may be armed with rows of hooks.
How are D.caninum adult worms identified?
~50cm long worms, with a scolex that has 4 unarmed suckers and a retractable/protrusable rostellum bearing 4-7 rows of small hooks. The gravid segments are barrel shaped and each proglottid as 2 genital pores.
