LECTURE 5: CESTODES

Classification, Morphology & Epidemiology

 Phylum Platyhelminthes

They are Flatworms

• Two types of flatworms
• Cestode and Trematode
• Dorsoventrally compressed
• Bilaterally Symmetrical
• The cephalic or anterior end is modified for attachment
Flatworms

• Have a digestive tract with only one opening

• Lack a circulatory system

• Most are Hermaphroditic/Monoecious

• Some are Dioecious – Sexes are separate

 Class Cestoda (Tape Worms)

• Adult consist of Head, Neck and Proglottids (chains of

many reproductive units)

• They are flattened and elongated

• Vary in length from 3mm to 10m

• May have 3 to several thousands of segments

Class Cestoda

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Have the basic animal cell structure
• Have complex cellular organization
• Made up of Cluster or Colony of cells that function together
• Hermaphrodites
• Sexual multiplication involves fusion of gametes
 Cestode (Tape Worms)

Their bodies are made up of:

• Scolex - Head

• Neck – connects the head to the body

• Proglottids – Body consists of series of segments

Structural Characteristics
Structure of Cestode
Adult Tapeworm
 Cestodes - Two groups

 Cyclophyllidean and Pseudophyllidean

• Cyclophyllidean:
- (i)Taenia Sp (ii) Echinococcus sp. (iii) Multiceps Multiceps
(iv) Hymenolepis Sp. (v) Dipylidium caninum
• Pseudophyllidean:
- (i) Diphyllibothrium latum & (ii) Spirometra Sp.
Cyclophyllidean

• They have exclusively terrestrial life cycle with a single

intermediate host
• Host can be Vertebrate or Invertebrate
• Length of worm varies from 3mm-10m
• Structure consist of Scolex (Head) with 4 large Suckers
(Acetabula)
• Proglottids (body): usually longer than wide
Terminologies

• Rostellum
• Acetabula
• Strobila
• Cysticercus cellulosa
• Hyadatid cyst
• Onchosphore
• Bladderworm
Taenia saginata

• Is a Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• Beef tapeworm (the most commonest tapeworm)
• The adult worm is very long, could be up to 10m
• But is usually five meters (5m) and has 1000-2000 proglottid
• Man is the only definitive host
• Cattle are the significant intermediate hosts
Epidemiology and Distribution

• It has a worldwide distribution

• About 70 million people are believed to be infected
• Common in cattle rearing areas where beef is eaten raw or
semi-cooked, especially Ethiopia
• In other places like Morocco and Egypt, camel is the source
of human infection
• It is also common in Ghana
Epidemiology and Distribution

• Also mass migration and travels of workers contributed to

distribution of infections

• Inadequate sanitary conditions such as disposal of sewage

have contributed to increase in prevalence

• Cattle infection due to grazing on grass polluted by human

feces
Morphology

• Scolex: pear-shaped (Pyriform) 1-2mm diameter with 4

prominent hemispherical suckers (Acetabulum)
• Absence of hooks on the Scolex
• Proglottids: long about 5-10meters with 1000-2000
segments
• Ova: thick round or globular, radially striated double shelled
enclosing the embryophore
Taenia saginata
Taenia saginata
Morphology

• Yellowish- brown in color

• Ova contain 6 hooklets in the onchosphere
• Each gravid segment contain about 100,000 ova
• The ova is expelled when proglottid detaches itself from the
the Strobila
• Proglottid is longer than wide
Proglottid of T. saginata
Taenia solium

• Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• Pork tapeworm
• Adult is located in the mucosa of the ileum (small intestine
• Pig is the significant intermediate host
• Have a unique significant infection (Cysticercosis)
• That is, humans may swallow the ova which then develop to
the laval Cysticercus known as Cysticercus Cellulosae
• This develops to the infection human Cysticercosis
Epidemiology and Distribution

• Not widely distributed as T saginata

• 4.5million people are estimated to be infected
• Africa, New Guinea and S America are the endemic areas
• However, mass migration and travels of workers is a factor
• Inadequate sanitary conditions like disposal of sewage have
contributed to increase in prevalence
Morphology

• Scolex is pear-shaped with 4 prominent suckers(Acetabulum)

• Scolex also have 2 rows of encircling curved hooklets
(Rostellum)
• Proglottids are long and measure about 5-10 meters with
1000-2000 proglottids
• Ovum is oval, double shelled with striated membrane
(Embryophere)
Ovum contain 6 hooklets in the onchosphere
Scolex (Head) of Taenia solium
Scolex of Taenia solium
Taenia solium
Bladderworm of Taenia solium
Morphology

• Each gravid segment contain about 100,000 ova

• The ova is expelled when proglottid detaches itself from the

the strobila

• Proglottid is longer than wide

Ova(Egg) of Taenia solium
Proglottid of T solium
Hymenolepis nana
• Is a Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• Known as the Dwarf tapeworm
• It is the smallest adult tapeworm found in man
• Life cycle is maintained between human (an individual can
act as intermediate as well as definitive host)
• H. nana is the only known tapeworm which does not require
an intermediate host
Hymenolepis nana

• Adult is short (15mm x 0.5mm) and has approximately 200

proglottids

• Adult is located in the 2/3 of the small intestine attached to

the mucosa

• Very common among humans but also found in rats and

mice
Distribution

• It is worldwide in distribution
• Occur commonly in warm climates where sanitation is poor
• Children are more commonly infected than adults
• Especially children from institutions in tropical countries
• Human infection is by eating raw or semi-cooked meat
• Rats and mice infection is as a result of human feces reaching
the rats and mice
Morphology

• Adult worm is about 20mm by 0.7mm

• Have 200 proglottids
• Scolex is small and globular, bearing a short refractile
rostellum with a single ring of hooklets and 4 cup-shaped
suckers.
• Ovum is round/oval, double shelled and transparent
Adult worm
Ova of Hymenolepis nana

• Eggs measure 30-45mm and are spherical/ovoid

• Eggs are enclosed in two transparent membranes

• The inner membrane the (Embryophore) is Lemon - shaped

- and has polar knobs with (4 – 8) polar filaments
- Also has 6 hooklets (hexancanth)
Ova of Hymenolepis nana
Hymenolepis nana Ova
Echinococcus granulosus

• Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• Extraintestinal cestode
• Is a Tapeworm usually found in Dogs.
• Presence of a Scolex and 3 Proglottids (small)
• Causes Echinococcosis (Hydatid disease)
Distribution

• World wide distribution

- common in sheep and cattle rearing areas
• Hydatid disease, specifically called Hydatosis
• Unilocular hydatid cyst disease is usually asymptomatic
• The larval cyst is called Hydatid cyst
• Found in various sites in man including liver and lung
Echinococcus granulosus
Echinococcus granulosus

• This organism develops in dogs, and the eggs are passed in

faeces
• Eggs are ingested by cattle, sheep and sometimes man
• The eggs hatch in the small intestine, penetrate the muscles
and move into preferred sites
• Cysts are formed in various organs
• Causes Cystic Echinococcosis
PSEUDOPHYLLIDEANS

• Complex life cycle involving two or more intermediate hosts

• Their length vary, but is up to 30meters
• The Scolex bear sucking grooves (Bothria)
• Genital apertures are usually on the ventral surface
• Eggs are usually Operculated
Terminologies

• Coracidium
• Sparganum larva
• Coenurus
• Procercoid
• Plerocercoid
Diphyllibothrium latum

• Pseudophyllidean Cestode
• Commonly known as the Broad Fish Tapeworm
• Longest of all tapeworms and is about 3-10m
• Has a life span of 25yrs
• Located in the duodenum and the ileum of the GIT
• Suctorial grooves (Bothria) are used for attachment to the
mucosa of the ileum
Distribution

• Worldwide in distribution
• Common in areas where raw fish dishes or diets are taken
• Europe, Asia, N/S America and some parts of Africa
• Also areas where fish is eaten raw or undercooked
• Worm burden depends on number of Plerocercoid
swallowed
Morphology - Adult

• Characterised by having a Scolex with two deep Bothria

(Dorso-Ventral sucking grooves)

• Scolex is Almond shaped

• Scolex is elongated and spoon shaped

• Adult measures 3-10m and may have 4,000 proglottids

Scolex of Diphyllibothrium latum
Morphology - Ovum

• Ovoid and yellowish-brown in color

• Operculated (presence of an operculum)

• Embryo is in the morulla stage

Operculated Ova of Diphyllibothrium latum
Morphology - Diphyllibothrium latum

• Proglottids are wider than long

• Reproductive structures located in the center of gravid

proglottids.

• Both eggs and proglottids may be found in stool.

• Eggs are broad and operculated.

Proglotidds of Diphyllibothrium latum
Scolex and Proglottids of Diphyllibothrium latum
 Less occurence Cyclophyllidean Cestodes

Hymenolepis Diminuta
• Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• This is the rat tapeworm
• It is worldwide in distribution and common among rats,
mice, and wild rodents
• Infection found in Europe, Asia, and Africa
• Ovum has no polar filaments.
• Transmission by rat flea (intermediate host)
 Echinococcus multilocularis

• Small Cyclophyllidean Cestode

• The Fox Tape Worm (Infects foxes and also wolves)
• Found extensively in the Northern hemisphere
• Adult E. multilocularis are small (less than 5mm long and
only a few segments)
• Similarly causes Echinococcosis (Alveolar echinococcosis)
• Rat is the intermediate host
Adult Echinococcus multilocularis
 Less occurence Cestodes

SPIROMETRA SPP MULTICEP SERIALIS

• Pseudophyllidean Cestode • Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• Causes Sparganosis • Larva stage causes Coenurus
• Serious symptoms include • Occasionally, affects human
painful swellings beings
- cystic lumps in muscles and • Located in the brain and other
subcutaneous tissues vital organs where it
• Ocular sparganosis can cause - cause serious disease conditions
serious damage to the eye
 SPIROMETRA

• Spirometra are pseudophyllidean tapeworm

• A parasitic tapeworm that affects domestic animals and
humans
• Cyclop is the first intermediate host
• The second intermediate hosts are various species such as
fish, frog, snake, birds and mammals.
• Genus Spirometra: S. mansoni, S. ranarum, S. mansonoides
and S. erinacei
Dipylidium caninum

• Cyclophyllidean Cestode
• a tapeworm that commonly infects dogs and cats.
• Occasionally affects humans (especially children)
• Intermediate host: larva of dog fleas
• The length of tapeworm is 10 – 70 cm
• Name of disease: Dipylidiasis
Dipylidium caninum

• Distribution:
- USA and Argentina
- China and Philippines
- Rhodesia
• The first cases of D. caninum in humans were discovered in
1903
Dipylidium caninum