Name
Greek: dis = two; pyle = pore. Latin: canis = dog. English: cucumber seed tape worm (rice grain tapeworm).
Geographic Distribution/Epidemiology
Worldwide, this worm is one of the most common tapeworms of dogs and cats. Since this worm is also able to infect humans, especially families with dogs and cats are endangered. In Germany this worm is the most common tapeworm in children.
Morphology/Life Cycle
This tapeworm may reach a length of 20–50 cm. Its scolex has a diameter of 0.5 m, is armed by four suckers and a rostrum consisting of 3–4 rows of hooks (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4). Each proglottid contains two sets of sexual organs (Fig. 1.1). The terminal proglottids are completely filled with egg packages, which measure 200 × 120 μm and contain 8–30 eggs with diameters of 34–40 μm (Fig. 1.2). The excreted terminal proglottids appear in the feces of the host and have at first the appearance of whitish cucumber seeds and later (when dried) appear as rice grains. This appearance led to...
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References
Further Reading
Barutzki D, Schaper R (2003) Endoparasites in dogs and cats in Germany. Parasitol Res 90:S148–S153
Canto GJ et al (2011) The prevalence and abundance of helminths in stray dogs. J Helminthol 85:263–269
Fouril J et al (2013) Prophylactic treatment of flea-infested dogs with an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (Seresto®) to preemt infection with Dipylidium caninum. Parasitol Res 112:S33–S46
Mehlhorn H et al (1981) On the nature of proglottids in cestodes. Parasitol Res 65:243–259
Pena G et al (2013) In-vitro ovicidal and cestocidal effects of toxins from Bacillus thuringensis on the canine and human parasite Dipylidium caninum. BioMed Res Int. doi:10.1155/2013/174619
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Mehlhorn, H. (2016). Dipylidium caninum . In: Mehlhorn, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Parasitology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43978-4_916
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43978-4_916
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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