Dipylidium caninum

Zach Mess

Taxonomy

KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Platyhelminthes CLASS Cestoda ORDER cyclophyllidea FAMILY hymenoleopididae GENUS Dipylidium SPECIES caninum

General

Tape worm of cats and dogs

Common names: Cucumber Worm Double-pore Worm

Background

Geographic Range Anywere cats and/or

dogs are present Europe Latin america East asia South aftrica United states

-Definitive host- Dogs- Cats

-Intermediate host- Fleas

-Transmission- Ingestion of infected flea

(humans and animals)- Usually happens while

grooming

Background

-Definitive host- Dogs- Cats

-Intermediate host- Fleas

-Transmission- Ingestion of infected flea (Humans and pets)

- Ctenocephalides canis (dogs)

- Ctenocephalides felis (cats)

- Usually happens while grooming

Structure (adult)

Adult worm ~ 18 in.

Head Scolex With armed rostellum 4 rows of spikes 4 suction discs

Segmented body (barrel shaped) Segments called proglottids Initially trapazoid shaped elongate as gravid proglottis

formed Proglottids contain both male and female sex organs

(hermaphroditic) Posterior proglotids completely filled with egg packets

Dipylidiidae

Adult worm

Double-pore Worm

Life Cycle

Life Cycle Breakdown

Intact gravid proglottids pass in feces

Proglottid releases egg packet containing oncospheres

Ingestion of egg pack by flea larva

Oncophere hatces in larva, passes through intestinal wall and developes into cysticercoid in body cavity

Larva mature into adult flea (with infective cysticercoid)

Ingestion of infected flea by cat, dog, or human

Digestion of flea releasing cysticercoid

Cysticercoid developes into adult worm in small intestine and attaches to intestivnal wall

Eventually developes gravid proglottids which are passed in feces

Clinical Signs

Most cases are asymptomatic Including cats/dogs

Severe infections can exhibit: Abdominal pain Diarrhea Itchy anus Urticaria

Red rash / welts Extremely itchy Caused by body’s allergic reaction to worm

antibodies

Diagnosis

Observe gravid proglottids in stool, or near anus White Shaped like cucumber seed\ Usually intact

Observe ova in fecal smear

Treatment

Praziquantil Very effective Tolerated well in both pets and humans Humans = oral Pets = injection

Can dissolve worm so it may not be seen in stool

Control

Vector control!

Control fleas on pet and in pets environment May take up to a month to get rid of all fleas Pet may need more than one treatment

Teach children to wash hands after playing with pets

Dispose of pet waste properly

Work Cited

http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/species.asp?id=14558

http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2006/Dipylidiasis/index.htm

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/parasit06/website/lab6new2009.htm

http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/d/dipylidium_caninum_infection/symptoms.htm

http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/education/curriculum/vm8054/labs/lab14/cases/flea%20dermatitis/dermatitisdiscuss.htm

http://unboundstate.blogspot.com/2011/05/funny-dog-pictures.html

http://www.medicalook.com/Skin_diseases/Urticaria.html

http://www.hillsvet.com/pdf/en-us/tapewormsDipylidiumCaninum_en.pdf

http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2011/bcr.07.2011.4510.abstract