Taenia multiceps
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| Taenia multiceps | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Platyhelminthes |
| Class | Cestoda |
| Order | Cyclophyllidea |
| Family | Taeniidae |
| Genus | Taenia |
| Species | T. multiceps |
| Also known as: | Multiceps multiceps Coenurus cerebralis Gid Staggers |
Hosts
Definitive host: Dogs and foxes.
Intermediate host: Cattle, sheep, pig, horses and man.
Identification
T. multiceps are around 5cm in length.
Life Cycle
The intermediate host is infected via ingestion of the parasite eggs. These eggs hatch in the small intestine. The parasite the migrates to the spinal cord and brain via the blood stream. The definitive host becomes infected when it eats the spinal cord, or brain of the intermediate host.
References
Taylor, M.A, Coop, R.L., Wall,R.L. (2007) Veterinary Parasitology Blackwell Publishing