Tapeworms

a) Head of a the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), b) Head of a beef tapeworm (Taenia saginatus )

In biology, Cestoda is the class of parasitic flatworms, called cestodes or tapeworms, that live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults and often in the bodies of various animals as juveniles. Important tapeworm families include:

• Family Taeniidae- The Taenia genus including the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, and the beef tapeworm, Taenia saginata, also known as Taeniarhynchus saginata. As well as the genus Echinococcus which results in a potentially fatal parasitic disease called hydatid disease.
• Genus Dipylidiidae-including Diphyllobothrium latum, is known as the broad or fish tapeworm, or broad fish tapeworm and Dipylidium caninum, also called the cucumber tapeworm, infects organisms afflicted with fleas, including dogs, cats, and pet-owners, especially children.
• Genus Hymenolepididae- including Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf tapeworm) and Hymenolepis diminuta (Rat tapeworm)

Taenia solium

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  Life cycle of Taenia solium
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  "Bladder worm" (Taenia solium), left - right, enlarged.
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  Head of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium.
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  Ripe proglottis of pork tapeworm, taenia solium
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  Taenia solium tapeworm proglottids.
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  Taenia solium proglotid
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  Taenia solium tapeworm scolex.

Taenia saginatus

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  Life cycle Taenia saginatus
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  An adult Taenia saginata tapeworm.
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  Taeniarhynchus saginatus, 2/3 natural size
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  Taenia saginata in appendix.
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  Gravid proglottid of Taenia saginata.
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  Proglottid of Taenia saginata.
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  Proglottis of Taeniarhynchus saginatus.
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  Head of Taeniarhynchus saginatus, 5 times natural size.

Echinococcus

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  Echinococcus "Hydatid sand"
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  Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst in a sheep.
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  Cotton rat infected with Echinococcus multilocularis.
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  Scolex of Echinococcus granulosus

Diphyllobothrium latum and Dipylidium

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  Proglottids of Diphyllobothrium latum.
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  An egg packet of Dipylidium caninum.
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  Dipylidium caninum proglottid.