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CESTODES
“Tapeworms”
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CESTODES
GENERAL FEATURES

long flat ribbon-like bodies; white

or grayish in color
Scolex
numerous segments (strobila)
 no gut or digestive system, with
tegument,
Acoelomate
slow body flexion
hermaphroditic
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CESTODES
PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES

- two subclasses: Cestodaria

(decacanth) and Eucestoda
(hexacanth)
- 14 orders
- 2 orders with medical
significance
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Pseudophyllidea
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Cyclophyllidea
have terrestrial 2-host life-cycles where adult tapeworms
develop in carnivores (scolex with 4 suckers and sometimes
hooks) while larval metacestodes form bladder-like cysts in
the tissues of herbivores. The larvae of Taenia spp. cause
cysticercosis in cattle, pigs and humans, while those of
Echinococcus cause hydatid disease in humans, domestic
and wild animals.

have aquatic 3-host life-cycles, involving the sequential

formation of adult tapeworms in fish-eating animals (scolex
with 2 longitudinal bothria), procercoid larval stages in aquatic
invertebrates (copepods) and then plerocercoid (spargana)
stages in fish e.g. Diphyllobothrium in humans, dogs and cats
being transmitted through copepods and fish.
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CYCLOPHYLLIDEA
> have terrestrial 2-host life-cycles
where adult tapeworms develop in
carnivores
> scolex with 4 suckers and
sometimes hooks
> larval metacestodes form bladder-
like cysts in the tissues of herbivores
>Ex. Taenia spp. (cysticercosis in
cattle, pigs and humans)
> Ex. Echinococcus (hydatid disease
in humans, domestic and wild
animals)
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PSEUDOPHYLLIDEA
> have aquatic 3-host life-
cycles, involving the sequential
formation of adult tapeworms in
fish-eating animals
> scolex with 2 longitudinal
bothria
> procercoid larval stages in
aquatic invertebrates
(copepods)
> plerocercoid (spargana)
stages in fish
Ex. Diphyllobothrium in
humans, dogs and cats being
transmitted through copepods
and fish
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Egg Metacestode

Adult

Echinococcus sp.
Hymenolepsis nana
Hymenolepsis diminuta
Dipylidium caninum
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Other Cestodes
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Echinococcus
granulosus
Dog tapeworm
Causes echinococcosis (common
in Kenya, Africa)
Morphology:
Adult (3-6mm in length up to 1
cm)

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Life Cycle: Echinococcus

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granulosus
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Pathogenecity
 Cough
Hepatomegaly
Pressure
Rupture of cyst – severe allergic
reaction - anaphylaxis
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Diagnosis and Treatment

X-ray or other body scans
Demonstration of protoscolises in
cyst after operation
Serology

> Surgery
> Albendazole

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Hymenolepsis nana
Dwarf tapeworm
Causes hymenolepiasis
(worldwide, specifically in Europe)
Morphology:
Adult (15-40mm (1-3cm) in
length)
 40 microns

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Life Cycle: Hymenolepsis

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nana
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Pathogenecity
anal itching diarrhea
(can be
headache,bloody),
increased
appetite
appetite, or loss of
Insomnia,
muscle
Nausea, spasms,
nervousness,
Seizure,
ache, stomach
Vomiting,
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weakness, weight loss
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Diagnosis and Treatment

Fecal analysis
 Endoscopic
examination

> Niclosamide

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Prevention and Control

Wash, peel, or cook vegetables
Wash hands with soap and water
after using the toilet and before
preparing food or eating
Quit the habit of putting fingers in
your nose and mouth.
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Life Cycle
 TAENIA SAGINATA
HUMAN-DEFINITIVE HOST
COSMOPOLITAN DISTRIBUTION
1000-4000 PROGLOTTIDS
10-14-25M IN LENGTH
SCOLEX-1-2MM
4 ACETABULA
NO HOOKS

CYSTECIRCUS BOVIS
OVOIDAL, MILKY WHITE

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Life Cycle
TAENIA SOLIUM
HUMAN-DEFINITIVE/INTERMEDIATE
HOST
COSMOPOLITAN DISTRIBUTION
800-1000 PROGLOTTIDS
2-4M IN LENGTH
SCOLEX-1MM
4 ACETABULA
W/ HOOKS
CYSTECIRCUS CELLULOSAE
“MEASLY PORK”
OVAL, TRANSLUSCENT
 HUMAN CYSTICERCOSIS

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TAENIA SAGINATA – NO HOOKS &
ROSTELLUM
W/ 4 ACETABULA
TAENIA SOLIUM – W/ 4 SMALLER
ACETABULA; W/ ROSTELLUM W/
DOUBLE CROWN OF 25-30 HOOKS

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T.SAGINATA
OVA- SPHERICAL, BROWNISH, W/
EMBRYOPHORE; INSIDE IS THE
ONCOSPHERE/EMBRYO W/ 3PAIRS
OF HOOKLETS; GRAVID
PROGLOTTIDS (97K-124K OVA) –
APOLYSIS

T. SOLIUM
OVAL, TRANSLUSCENT, OPAQUE;
SCOLEX W/ 4 SUCKERS AND
CIRCLET OF HOOKS; GRAVID
PROGLOTTIDS (30K-50K OVA)

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WHAT ARE THE

PATHOGENIC EFFECTS
OF TAENIASIS?
Irritation
Epigastric pain
Discomfort
Hunger pangs
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Intestinal obstruction
Pancreatic and bile obstruction
Anxiety and distress
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WHAT IS
CYSTICERCOSIS?
Cysts survive up to 5 years
Cystic fluid increases upon death
Calcification of parasite

Neurocysticercosis (NCC)
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>Cysticerci w/ scolex may be found at
the brain parenchyma or in the ventricles
>Cystecerci w/out scolex may be found
at the basal cysticernal space
NCC – 1. parenchymal 2. extra-
parenchymal

Subarachnoid/meningitic – seizures →
racemous cysticercosis
Intraventricular/spinal – obstructive
hydrocephalus
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DIAGNOSIS &
TREATMENT
Microscopy (FECT)
Peri-anal swab

Praziquantel
Albendazole
Steroids; corticosteroids &
mannitol
Surgical removal of lesions/cysts

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 EPIDEMIOLOGY
worldwide
Endemic in Ethiopia and East
Africa
Taenia asiatica

Philippines : T. saginata is greater

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Proper cooking of meat
Preserving at -20 degrees Celcius
for 10 days
Sanitary inspection of slaughtered
pigs, cows, goats and cattle
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