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, Coenurus celebralis 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:

They cause round worm infection, or nematodiasis or parasitic gastro-enteritis The round worms contribute major economic loss in livestock production in the world. They are generally round in cross section, cylindrical, pointed at either ends and have smooth white cuticle. Each individual worm is male or female. They vary in length from 1 mm to 0.5 m. Their body structure comprise: The alimentary canal which starts with the mouth and is followed by the intestines and ends in the rectal opening near the tail. The worm feed through the mouth and pass the feed to the intestines where nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal wall. The reproductive organ of the male worm consists of along tube through which the spermatozoa are pumped. The female worm has the ovary, uterus and others at the same position as that of male. Male worms are assisted in copulation by the spicules which they use for attachment to the female. The spicules also direct the flow of sperms. In all cases, the male worm is smaller than the female.

In the direct life cycle, eggs hatch on the pastures into free living larvae which enter the host via the mouth or through the skin. In some cases, the eggs are picked by the host. In the in-direct life cycle, the eggs hatch into larvae then the larvae enters the intermediate host. Then the intermediate host is eaten by the final host. Sometimes, the eggs may be ingested by the intermediate host which is later taken by the final host. The larvae may as well penetrate through the skin of the host and later sucked by blood sucking intermediate host inside which they develop. The final host will then become infected by the bite of the intermediate host. In the life cycle of round worms, the intermediate host is always an invertebrate.

Is a type of round worm which occurs in the intestines of cattle and is present in most tropical countries. The worm has a thin translucent cuticle. Infection is more serious in calves than in mature cattle. Prenatal infection is very common. The worm has a direct life cycle whereby the eggs are swallowed and hatch inside the host. The larvae penetrates the intestinal wall and migrates to other tissues of the host especially the lung via the blood stream. The larvae would be coughed and then is reswallowed and then reenters then intestines. The larvae moult and become adult worms in the intestines where they produced eggs.

This is also called the large stomach worm. It is a common stomach worm of cattle and other ruminants. It is mainly found in the abomasums. The worm is distributed all over the world. It has a direct life cycle whereby the eggs are passed each day by worm and cab be observed in feaces. The larvae are ingested by the host and migrate in blades of grass when the grass is wet. Infective larvae can survive for several weeks in pasture under suitable climatic conditions. After the larvae are ingested by the host, they settle in the mucosa of the abomasums and pass through the fourth larval stage and become adult. The adult worms mate and the female worm pass eggs in the feaces of the final host.

There are several species of this worm widely spread in the tropics. The worm is brownish, pinkish in colour and is found in the abomasums and small intestines of cattle and other species of domestic animals including human. They have a direct life cycle similar with Haemonicus contortus. Infective larvae are ingested and settle in the alimentary canal of the host.

These are small and red colored worms found in the small intestines of most ruminant animals. They have a direct life cycle similar with Trichostrongilus.

They are mainly found in the abomasums and occasionally in the small intestines of ruminants. They have a dire ct life cycle and are able to survive longer outside the host even under harsh conditions.They normally infect pasture during the onset of the long rains.

They are found in the small intestines of ruminant animals. The eggs develop outside the host and the larvae hatch at the infective stage. Te larvae develop to maturity inside the host.

They are also known as the large mouthed bowel worms. They are found in the colon of most ruminants. They have a direct life cycle and infection of the host is by ingestion of the infective larvae. They larvae penetrate and embed in the wall of the colon. The adult worm passes eggs in feaces of the host.

However little the amount of worms may be, the host animal will appear stunted and emaciated due to competition on nutrients by the parasites.

Gastro enteritis sings are common in the species of worms which affect the intestines and bronchitic signs would appear in the worms which affect the lungs. The bronchitic symptoms would be accompanied by coughing. In almost all cases of round worm infestation, the symptoms would be more pronounced in calves than older animals. Death would occur as a general outcome depending on the worm load and the type of treatment.

Detailed diagnosis should be done by a qualified personnel to identify the type of worm that is in occurrence and should follow the normal diagnostic procedures.