Is a type of flat worm that belongs to cestoda class (cestodes). They consist of a number of sections occurring one after the other. Each section contains separate reproductive organs but the nervous and excretory systems are continous through the whole worm. The head part is called the scorlex and consists of the hooks, or suckers. The separate sections also called proglotides bud off from the scorlex one by one to make a chain called strobila. The sections furthest from the head are the oldest. The infection of the tape worm (taeniosis) affects almost all domestic and wild animals. Birds, fishes, amphibian, reptiles and certain worms are also affected. In livestock, the cestode/tape worm parasitic occurs in either adult or larval stages

The general life cycle of tape worms occurs in two hosts, the final and the intermediate hosts. The eggs of adult worm are fertilized and develop into embryos in the uterus within a segment (proglottis). The segment will break off from the rest of the chain and are passed out of the body of the host in feces after degeneration of proglottis to form a sac of embyonated eggs. Within the egg of all tape worms, an embryo develops which is eaten by the intermediate host where it transforms into a bladder like structure. The embryo may then transform into one big bladder like structure with numerous invaginated walls called coenurus. The embryo may also transform into one bladder like structure with one invagination in the wall called cystercus. In Echnicoccus granulosis species of tape worm, the bladder like structure may bud off to form daughters and grand daughters of called hydatid cyst.

The coenurus, cystercus and hydatid cysts will each produce at the base the scorlex including the hooks which will become the scorlex of the future worm in the final host. It is the larval stage which enters the intermediate host and the invaginated head remains until when the intermediate host is taken up into the body of the final host. The invaginated head fixes itself into the tissues of the final host to begin a new adult phase.

In their life cycle, tape worms are able to develop in a variety of intermediate hosts and the intermediate hosts are likely to beaten by the final host. The adult stage of the tape worm is often host specific. The effects of tape worms are wide spread in almost all tropical countries. The animals may carry a moderate or heavy infestation without showing ill health. However, infected calves will have stunted growth and may die.

It affects ruminants, and mainly cattle. It is present in most parts of the world. The life cycle is through oribatid (beetle) mites. The eggs or shed proglottides containing eggs are eaten by the final host in 2 - 6 months. Mites are present in grazing pastures in large numbers. The mites are ingested by grazing animals and larvae develop in the intestine into adult tape worms in about 6 weeks. The adult tape worm lives for about 3 months in the final host.

They occur in the small intestines of cattle and other ruminants. They are present mainly in Africa and India. The adult tape worm measures about 3 meters long and 3mm wide.

Occurs in the small intestine of cattle, sheep and goats and are mainly present in Africa. The life cycle is through the oribatid beetle.

The effect of adult tape worms in cattle may not be great. However, heavy infestation may cause disease especially in the presence of other stress factors like nutritional deficiencies or bacterial infections.
The clinical effects include stairing coat, digestive disturbance, pot belly, anemia and oedema. When present in large numbers, tape worms can cause blockage in the intestines. Diarrhea and constipation may sometimes be observed.

Is made from the presence of the tape worm segments found in the feaces or intestines or from the presence of the tape worm eggs in the feaces. The presence of the eggs in the feaces would be demonstrated by direct smear or by the floatation technique.

Most of the tape worms causing larval infection to livestock belong to the family Taeniidae of the order cyclophyllidae. The definitive hosts are mainly canine and humans who are also affected by adult parasites. The taeniidae also affect various domestic animals. Some tape worms that affect cattle and humans include the following: taenia siginata, taenia hydatigena, Taenia multiceps and Echinococcus granulosus.

It is foud in the intestines of humans and measures about 4 - 15 m long. The gravid segments are 15 - 20 mm long and 4 - 7 mm wide. Each segement contains about 100,000 eggs. The strobila may have about 2000 proglottides. The active proglottides are shed and can move some distance away from the human host. The proglottide produces milky fluid containing tiny eggs. The eggs are ingested by cattle (primary host) where the embryos enter the blood stream and settle in the muscle tissues of the host thus causing a condition known as beef measles. The cysticercus bovis appears at meat inspection or post mortem as peaqrly white oval nodules observable by naked eyes. The cysticercus bovis has a life span of 2 - 3 years in human (secondary host). The humans are infected by eating raw or partially cooked beef.

The larval stage is found in the peritoneal cavity of most domestic animals including cattle. Embryos hatch in the intestines of the intermediate host and reach the liver via the blood stream. In the liver, they cause extensive damage. They then break out of the liver into the peritoneal cavity. The final host (dog) is affected by ingestion of the cysticercus.

This is found in dogs as the definitive host. The larval stage is coenurus cerebralis and occurs in the brain and spinal cord of cattle and other intermediate hosts. Eggs are ingested by the intermediate host and embryos hatch in the intestines. They pass into the blood stream and localize in various parts of the body including the nervous system where they settle and develop to maturity. The final hosts become affected by eating coenurus in the brain or spinal cord of the infected intermediate host.

This is a very small tape worm which has only 4 proglottides. It is found in dogs as the primary host. The larval stage (hydatid cyst) is found in numerous intermediate hosts including human, cattle and other domestic animals. Eggs are taken up by ingestion and embryos enter the blood stream and are carried to all parts of the body. The most commonly affected organs are the liver and the lungs. Six months after original infection, the inner lining of the hydatid buds off small vesicles called brood capsules which are similar with the hydatid. The brood capsules later develop into adult tape worm. The development of further cysts from the hydatid or the brood capsule may be accelerated by the rapture of the hydatid cyst or trauma. The final host is infected by ingestion of the fertile cysts and the worm arising from the scolex matures in 6 - 7 months.

Symptoms observed in the intermediate host vary depending on the organ of the body that is affected.

Cysticercus bovis has no apparent effect in the bovine host. However, infection in ruminants is characterized by brain symptoms which depend on the position of the parasite in the brain or the spinal cord. The first symptoms after the first few weeks may include: High fever, inflammation of the brain and meningitis. The pressure exerted by the hydatid cyst may cause blindness, cyclic movement, jerky staggering gait, paralysis and prostration. Other general signs may include: grinding of teeth, salivation, lack of balance and convulsion. Pressure on the lumbar region of the spine may show signs of paralysis of the hind legs. The animal develops lack of appetite and become emaciated and dies from prostration. The effect of the hydatid cyst on the intermediate host depends also on the organ in which the cyst is situated. Some effects may include: Dysponea especially when the cyst is located in the lung, digestive upsets and ascites arising from liver infection. The main significance of the hydatid infection is that the animals act as reservoirs for human infection.

The lesions are more likely to be found as follows during meat inspection or at postmortem: Cysticercus bovis will be found embedded in the following parts: heart, tongue, diaphragm and masseter muscles.
Cysticercus celebralis: the animals are normally emaciated and anemic during meat inspection. Coenurus may also be found in the brain or spinal cord. The hydatid infection will reveal typical cysts in the lungs and liver.

Accurate diagnosis can be done from samples collected by qualified personnel and analyzed at the laboratory.

Treatment for larval stage of taeniids is not feasible because there are no suitable drugs or chemical compounds for their treatment.

The principle of a proper control program aims at the following:

The most effective control method should ensure the following: