Cestoda Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Which kingdom and phylum do cestodes belong to?

Plantae, Chordata

Fungi, Ascomycota

Protista, Protozoa

Animalia, Platyhelminthes (correct)

Are all cestodes parasitic?

True

Describe the general information of cestodes.

Solid, flattened body. No anus. Body filled with parenchyma. Hermaphroditic. Simple muscular, digestive, and nervous system. Well-developed reproductive tract.

What is the purpose of direct smear in diagnostics?

To diagnose Giardia. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of sedimentation?

Visualize larval forms/heavy eggs of lung worms, trematode eggs/flukes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the length of adult tapeworms?

A few mm to several meters. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three body parts of a tapeworm?

Scolex, Neck, Strobila. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the scolex?

Used for attachment to the host and locomotion. Signup and view all the answers

What is a rostellum?

The appendix where the hooks are located in a tapeworm. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the neck in a tapeworm?

Contains embryonated cells that form new segments. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the strobila?

Body formed of proglottids. Signup and view all the answers

What do proglottids mainly contain?

Genital organs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the tegumentum?

Skin or outside coating of a tapeworm. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the life cycle of a tapeworm.

Proglottid/egg in stool, egg ingested by intermediate host, matures to larval form, ingested by definitive host, moves to intestines and matures. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of the Family Taenidae?

2 rows of hooks, single genitalia on the border of proglottis, trapezoidal, serrated segments. Signup and view all the answers

What do Taenia eggs look like?

Round to oval with a thick, radiating outer membrane. Signup and view all the answers

What are some Taenia species of importance in dogs?

Taenia pisiformis - rodents, Taenia hydatigena - rabbits, Taenia ovis - sheep, Multiceps multiceps - rodents, Echinococcus granulosus. Signup and view all the answers

What are some Taenia species of importance in cats?

Taenia taeniaformis - rodents, Echinococcus multiocularis - rodents. Signup and view all the answers

What is the prepatent period of Taenia pisiformis?

1-2 months. Signup and view all the answers

What are the intermediate hosts of Taenia in dogs?

Prey animals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the length of Taenia in dogs?

1 cm - 500 cm. Signup and view all the answers

What is the egg size of Taenia?

19-49 um. Signup and view all the answers

What are the intermediate hosts of Taenia in cats?

Mice & rats. Signup and view all the answers

What is the length of Taenia in cats?

Up to 60 cm. Signup and view all the answers

What is Echinococcus granulosus?

A species of tapeworm with fecal-oral transmission; zoonotic; definitive host is a dog, intermediate hosts are sheep and goats. Signup and view all the answers

Where is Echinococcus granulosus found in the body?

Liver & lungs in dogs; liver, lungs, & brain in humans. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Family Dilepididae?

The most common tapeworm in dogs and cats. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common tapeworm species?

Dipylidium caninum. Signup and view all the answers

What is the intermediate host of Dipylidium caninum?

Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and lice (Felicola, Trichodectes). Signup and view all the answers

What is the prepatent period of Dipylidium caninum?

2-3 weeks. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the transmission process of Dipylidium caninum.

Eggs/proglottids in stool - flea ingests eggs - dog/cat eats flea - intestinal maturation - 2-4 weeks - eggs/proglottids in stool. Signup and view all the answers

What do Dipylidium caninum proglottids look like?

Smooth, rice-shaped with 2 genital pores. Signup and view all the answers

How is diagnosis of tapeworms typically performed?

Visualization of proglottids in fecal material/anus of animal; fecal flotation (although not commonly found this way). Signup and view all the answers

What are possible clinical signs of tapeworms?

Abdominal discomfort, anorexia, pruritis, scooting, tail rubbing; may cause intestinal swelling and irritation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common treatment of tapeworms?

Praziquantel (Taenia, Dipylidium, Echinococcus), Fenbendazole (Taenia only), Epsiprantel (Taenia, Dipylidium). Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Class Cestoda Overview

Belongs to the Kingdom Animalia and Phylum Platyhelminthes.
All cestodes are obligate parasites, requiring at least one intermediate host.

General Characteristics

Cestodes have a solid, flattened body structure.
They lack an anus and possess a body filled with parenchyma.
Hermaphroditic, with a simple muscular, digestive, and nervous system.
Reproductive tracts are well-developed.

Tapeworm Structure

Adult tapeworms range from a few millimeters to several meters in length.
Composed of three main parts: scolex, neck, and strobila.
Scolex serves for attachment and locomotion, often featuring hooks and suckers.
The neck connects the scolex and strobila, containing embryonated cells that generate new segments.
The strobila consists of proglottids, maturing as they progress along its length.

Proglottids

Contain genital organs, filled with thousands of eggs after fertilization.

Tegumentum

The outer coating of tapeworms, replaced every 6-8 hours.
Most metabolic processes occur through this layer.

Life Cycle

Life cycle involves proglottids/eggs in stool, egg ingestion by intermediate host, maturation to larval form, ingestion by definitive host, and migration to intestines.

Family Taenidae

Features two rows of hooks and a single genitalia on proglottis.
Proglottids have trapezoidal, serrated segments.

Taenia Eggs

Rounded to oval with a thick, radiating outer membrane often containing hooks.

Taenia Species Impact

Dogs: Taenia pisiformis (rodents), Taenia hydantigena (rabbits), Taenia ovis (sheep), Multiceps multiceps (rodents), Echinococcus granulosus.
Cats: Taenia taeniaformis (rodents), Echinococcus multiocularis (rodents).

Prepatent Periods

Taenia pisiformis: 1-2 months.
Dipylidium caninum: 2-3 weeks.

Host Information

Intermediate hosts for Taenia in dogs include prey animals, while in cats, they are typically mice and rats.
Echinococcus granulosus has zoonotic transmission routes, utilizing dogs as definitive hosts and sheep or goats as intermediate hosts.

Health Impact in Humans

Echinococcus granulosus can inhabit the liver, lungs, and brain in humans, with dogs carrying them primarily in the liver and lungs.

Family Dilepididae

Known as the most common tapeworm family in dogs and cats, with Dipylidium caninum being the most prevalent species.
Intermediate hosts for Dipylidium caninum are fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and lice (Felicola, Trichodectes).

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis involves visual inspection of proglottids in feces and possible fecal flotation.
Clinical signs of tapeworms include abdominal discomfort, anorexia, pruritus, and possible intestinal irritation.
Treatments include praziquantel, fenbendazole, and epsiprantel, along with preventive measures like flea control and discouraging hunting behavior.

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Description

Test your knowledge on Cestoda with these flashcards. This quiz covers essential terms, their definitions, and general information about the structure and characteristics of cestodes. Perfect for students studying parasitology or animal biology.