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Mesocestoides

Mesocestoides

Mesocestoides

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Platyhelminthes
  • Subclass Cestoda
  • Order Cyclophyllidea
  • Family Mesocestoididae

Final host

  • Dogs, cats and wild carnivores

    Morphology

  • Adult: variable size (≈ 12-200 cm)
  • The scolex is large and unarmed
  • The strobila is thin and narrow
  • Mature segments are longer than wide and each contains a single set of central reproductive organs, with a central genital pore
  • Gravid segments contain a parauterine organ which contains eggs

    Cycle

  • Indirect with two intermediate hosts (IH)
  • 1st IH: oribatid mites (1st metacestode: cisticercoid)
  • 2nd IH: coprophagous bettles, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals (2nd metacestode: tetrathyridium)

    Location

  • Small intestine

    Feeding

  • Intestinal contents (absorption by the tegument)

    Diagnostic

  • Egg

    Transmission

  • Tetrathyridium