Taenia (tapeworm)

This article is about a genus of tapeworm. For other uses, see Taenia (architecture)

Taenia is a genus of tapeworm that includes some important parasites of livestock. All members of this genus have an "armed" scolex, meaning that there are hooks on the "head" region.

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Proglottids have central ovary, with a vitellarium (yolk gland) posterior to it. As in all cyclophyllid cestodes, the genital pore on the side of the proglottid. Eggs are released when proglottid deteriorates, and so a uterine pore is unnecessary.

Important species include:

• Taenia saginata, which is also known as the beef tapeworm, though it also infects humans, and can only reproduce while in the human gut.
• Taenia solium, which is known as the pork tapeworm. Like Taenia saginata humans serve as its primary host, and it can only reproduce by the dispersal of proglottids while in the gut. These reinfect pigs when human faeces is improperly disposed of. This infection is most common in parts of Africa.
• Taenia pisiformis, which is common in wild dogs and in rabbits, who serve as intermediate hosts.
• Taenia crassiceps
• Taenia gonyamai, parasite of antelope (larval-) and lions (adult forms).^[1]
• Taenia taeniaeformis, which uses rodents as intermediate hosts and then inhabits cats as the definitive host.

References