intestinal blockage - it is possible for massive tapeworm infestations to block upthe intestines of animals (especially small puppies and kittens), producing signs of intestinal obstruction(e.g.In some individuals, the penetrating rostellum causes a severe inflammatory, allergic reaction within the host's intestine (the host's immune system actively rejects and attacks the tapeworm proteins), causing the animal host to exhibit abdominal pain and diarrhea. This spiky tapeworm grip is irritating to the wall of the intestine, creating discomfort for the animal host and alterations in intestinal motilityand regional intestinal mucus secretions, which can result in diarrhea (note that diarrhoea is mainly seen only in very heavy tapeworm infestations). intestinal irritation and diarrhea - when an adult flea tapeworm inhabits the small intestine of an animal, it finds a suitable site along the lining of the intestinal lumen and grasps on to it using suckers and a spiny anchor-like organ called a rostellum.brittleness, thinning, coarseness and loss of lustre of the coat. poor coat quality - severe malnutrition and malabsorption of vitamins, minerals and proteins can result in reduced quality of the haircoat - e.g.to not absorb its food properly), resulting in malnourishment, weight loss, ill-thrift and poor growth. This can cause the tapeworm-parasitised animal to not receive the nutrition it needs (i.e. malnutrition - very large numbers of flea tapeworms present in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats (particularly small puppies and kittens) can result in the malabsorption of nutrients (food) by the infested animal.Whether we would ever actually be likely to diagnose these sorts of non-specific signs in our pets is the real question, however - if our petscan not actually describe sensations of dizziness or headache to us humans, then how would we ever know? body weakness, headaches, dizziness and delirium - described in human tapeworm infestations, non-specific signs of weakness, headache and dizziness may occur in animals also.In contrast, certain other animalsdevelop a ravenous appetite in the face of tapeworm infestation because they are competing withthe parasite/s for nutrients (they need to physically eat more to provide enough nutrition for both themselves and the worms). non-specific appetite changes - tapeworms can cause some animalsto go off their food or to become fussy or picky about their eating habits (this appetite loss is possibly the result of such factors as abdominal pain and nausea - described above).Tapeworm afflicted humans often complain of cramping and nausea: signs that are generally difficult to ascribe to animals, but which probably do occur in them also (animals can't actually describe such vague feelings of cramping or nausea to us humans - so we are generally unaware of these signs in them). non-specific intestinal disturbances - tapeworms can produce some non-specific signs ofintestinal discomfort and pain (e.g.These rather-common cestode parasites pose a variety of problems for pets and pet owners including: Particularly common in puppies and kittens, flea tape worms can make for an unpleasant parasitic encounter for pet owners when they are discovered in the droppings of pets or found crawling out from the anuses of infested animals. Neurocysticercosis is an important cause of seizures and accounts for approximately 30% of all epilepsy cases in most developing countries.Ĭopyright © 2024, StatPearls Publishing LLC.Dipylidium caninum species) are a common species of tapeworm infesting dogs and cats and occasionally humans. These tapeworm infections have significant human and veterinary disease implications as well as economic effects. The infection with the adult tapeworm is called taeniasis if infected by the Taenia family or diphyllobothriasis if infected by Diphyllobothrium. The second type is due to ingesting the cysticerci themselves, from poorly cooked infected meat, which results in the growth and infestation of the adult tapeworm within the gastrointestinal tract.

If these cysticerci develop in the central nervous system, this is called neurocysticercosis. The first type is caused by ingesting the eggs from an adult worm (expelled in animal or human feces) which results in developing cysticerci (larval stage) within the animal or human tissues.

There are two types of infections that can develop depending on the route of infection. Although there are multiple species of cestodes, this paper will focus on three particular species that cause human disease: Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), and Diphyllobothrium (fish tapeworm). Cestodes are flat, parasitic, hermaphroditic tapeworms with complex life cycles that infect animals, including humans.

Tape worm information