Taenia serialis
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| Taenia serialis | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Platyhelminthes |
| Class | Cestoda |
| Order | Cyclophyllidea |
| Family | Taeniidae |
| Genus | Taenia |
| Species | T. serialis' |
| Also known as: | Coenurus serialis |
Hosts
Intermediate host: Rabbit
Definitive host:Dog
Identification
T. serialis is around 0.5m, with two prominent rows of hooks.
Life Cycle
The intermediate host is infected through ingestion of the tapeworm egg, which is shed by the dog, which acts as the definitive host. These develop and form cysts in the intermuscular connective tissues of rabbits, often causing a soft subdermal swelling. The definitive host then becomes infected through ingestion of the metacestode.
References
Taylor, M.A, Coop, R.L., Wall,R.L. (2007) Veterinary Parasitology Blackwell Publishing