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Each worm has male and female segments, which reproduce via hemaphroditism. The male segment fertilises the female segment. The reproductive organs then deteriorate, leaving only a uterus full of eggs. This then detachesfrom the rest of the worm and migrates to the large intestine, where it ruptures releasing the eggs.
Each worm has male and female segments, which reproduce via hemaphroditism. The male segment fertilises the female segment. The reproductive organs then deteriorate, leaving only a uterus full of eggs. This then detachesfrom the rest of the worm and migrates to the large intestine, where it ruptures releasing the eggs.
The eggs released are infective to oribatid mites, which act as the intermediate host.
The eggs released are infective to oribatid mites, which act as the intermediate host. These mites live in the ground, feeding on plant debris. These are ubiquitous, but most numerous on permanent pasture in the summer months.
The mites ingest the egg. Cysticercoid larvae hatch, and live within the mite for its entire life. These cysticercoid become infective around two weeks after hatching.
The horse, which acts as the definitive , ingests the mites in spring, when grazing the pasture.
They attach to the mucosa and into adults in around 6- 10 weeks. The adults live in the '''ileum''', at the '''ileocaecocolic valve''', and within the '''caecum'''. The adults are capable of shedding large numbers of eggs.
The prepatent period is 6-10 weeks.
''A. perfoliata'' is found mainly in the caecum, clustered around the ileo-caecal junction, where it causes superficial ulceration and mild inflammation. Generally, it is of little clinical significance, but epidemiological evidence suggests that heavy infections (greater than 20 tapeworms) are a significant risk factor in some forms of colic.
''A. perfoliata'' is found mainly in the caecum, clustered around the ileo-caecal junction, where it causes superficial ulceration and mild inflammation. Generally, it is of little clinical significance, but epidemiological evidence suggests that heavy infections (greater than 20 tapeworms) are a significant risk factor in some forms of colic.
[[Category:Anoplocephalidae]]
[[Category:Anoplocephalidae]]
[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]
[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]