Taenia saginata
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| Also known as: | Cysticercus bovis Beef tape worm Beef measles |
Hosts
Definitive host: Man.
Intermediate host: Cattle.
Identification
The adult is only found in humans, and is normally 5m in length, but may grow up to 3 times the length. The body is white and has a prominent anterior scolex, but no hooks.
The Proglottid has a thich outer shell, containing several hundred thousand eggs.
Life Cycle
Eggs are past by the host, and survive on the pasture. The oncosphere is then ingested by the intermediate host, the cow in this case. These infect the striated muscle, which are visible as cysts. Humans become infected by ingestion of poorly cooked meat.
References
Taylor, M.A, Coop, R.L., Wall,R.L. (2007) Veterinary Parasitology Blackwell Publishing