Changes

[[Image:Dipylidium caninum 2.jpg|right|150px|thumb|''Dipylidium caninum'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]]

[[Image:Dipylidium caninum 2.jpg|right|150px|thumb|''Dipylidium caninum'' - Courtesy of the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine]]

==Overview==

==Overview==

[[Cyclophyllidae]] cestodes have an indirect life cycle involving one or more intermediate hosts before developing into adult form in the definitive host. Eggs must be ingested by an intermediate host species, once ingested the gastric and intestinal secretions breakdown the thick shell and activate the 6-hooked oncosphere. The oncosphere uses its hooks to tear through the gastrointestinal mucosa to reach the blood or lymph system. In invertebrate hosts the oncosphere will enter directly into the body cavity from the gastrointestinal tract. The oncosphere then travels to its predeliction site, loses its hooks and develops into the larval stage known as a metacestode. This can be one of a number of forms dependent on the species of cestode. When the metacestode is ingested by the final host, the scolex attaches to the gastrointestinal mucosa, the remainder of the structure is digested, and a chain of proglottids (segments) begins to grow from the base of the scolex. Eggs are produced within the terminal proglottid of the chain which is shed into the feaces of the host once the production is complete.  

[[Cyclophyllidea]] cestodes have an indirect life cycle involving one or more intermediate hosts before developing into adult form in the definitive host. Eggs must be ingested by an intermediate host species, once ingested the gastric and intestinal secretions breakdown the thick shell and activate the 6-hooked oncosphere. The oncosphere uses its hooks to tear through the gastrointestinal mucosa to reach the blood or lymph system. In invertebrate hosts the oncosphere will enter directly into the body cavity from the gastrointestinal tract. The oncosphere then travels to its predeliction site, loses its hooks and develops into the larval stage known as a metacestode. This can be one of a number of forms dependent on the species of cestode. When the metacestode is ingested by the final host, the scolex attaches to the gastrointestinal mucosa, the remainder of the structure is digested, and a chain of proglottids (segments) begins to grow from the base of the scolex. Eggs are produced within the terminal proglottid of the chain which is shed into the feaces of the host once the production is complete.  

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Infection of the final-host involves at least three epidemiological relationships:<br/>

Infection of the final-host involves at least three epidemiological relationships:<br/>