tapeworm
Tapeworm disease or cestodiasis occurs most commonly after eating raw or undercooked meat or fish that contains the immature form of the tapeworm. [1]
The most common tapeworm of dogs and cats in the United States is called Dipylidium caninum (DIE-pih-LID-ee-um K-nine-um). [2]
A detailed study on the distribution of the parasitic worms along the small intestine of grebes in Canada showed that each of four grebe species was parasitized by 9?17 tapeworm species. [3]
The tapeworm also has six rows of teeth to grab on with. [4]
Tapeworm infection usually occurs when you eat food or drink water contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. [5]
Some tapeworms can live in an infected person for over 10 years if diagnosis is not made and treatment is not administered. [1]
During 1992?2002, annually 30?40 newly discovered species have been added, mostly recorded from tropical habitats (terrestrial and freshwater) or from marine fishes (especially from sharks and rays). [3]
Most people are confused about the size of a tapeworm because they only see its segments which are small; the entire tapeworm is usually 6 inches or more. [4]
The protruded rostellum penetrates deeply into the intestinal wall of the host, anchoring there by the crown of hooks situated on its top. [3]
The adult tapeworm is made up of many small segments, called proglottids (pro-GLOT-ids), each about the size of a grain of rice; adult tapeworms may measure 4-28 inches in length. [2]
Persons of all ages and both sexes are susceptible to tapeworm infection, but children are generally not exposed until they are old enough to begin eating meat or fish. [1]
Stabilization of any patient in the presence of a systemic disease or organ failure is essential. [6]
Although cats and dogs are rarely ill as a result of a Dipylidium tapeworm infection, the proglottids can sometimes be seen crawling near the anus or on the surface of a fresh bowel movement. [2]
The immature tapeworm develops into the adult form in the human intestine and may remain there for many years if not identified and treated. [1]
The potential cause of illness and disease is due to a metacestode stage happening in human tissues, rather than an adult tapeworm. [7]
Sources:
[1] Tapeworm diseases (www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/
[2] Dipylidium Infection: Fact Sheet - CDC DPD (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/
[3] tapeworm - Cestoda: Definition from Answers.com (www.answers.com/topic/tapeworm)
[4] The Tapeworm Page (www.marvistavet.com/html/
[5] Tapeworm infection - MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com/health/tapeworm/
[6] eMedicine - Tapeworm Infestation : Article by Lisandro Irizarry (www.emedicine.com/emerg/
[7] Cestoda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapeworm)