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