Cestodes

 

The bodies of cestodes are flat and ribbon-like. Its head (scolex) has organs of attachment that usually has four muscular, cup-shaped suckers and a crown of hooklets.

 

The individual segments of tapeworms are called proglottids. The chains of proglottids are called strobila.

 

All tapeworms are hermaphroditic (with both the male and female reproductive organs present in each proglottid). The eggs of most tapeworms are nonoperculated and contain a six-hooked hexacanth embryo. Tapeworms have no digestive system, thus food is absorbed from the host’s interesine through the soft body wall of the worm. Most tapeworms found in human intestine have complex life cycles involving intermediate hosts and in some cases, humans serve as a form of intermediate host that harbours larval stages.

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Parasite is defined as an organism that derives its nutrients from another living organism, the host. Parasitic diseases are usually referred to those caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods which love at the expense of their host. Successful parasites are the ones who are able to maintain their own life processes without killing their host.

Several ways to distinguish parasites infection and bacteria/viruses infection:

  1. Parasites have a complex life cycle that involves the formation of resistant cyst in the organism. (it can usually survive for long periods outside the host.)
  2. Life cycle might involve an insect vector (carrier) that is important for the transmission of disease. In most cases, it is impossible to eliminate the vector effectively.
  3. Some parasites are capable of infecting both humans and animals, thus both can act as reservoirs for the infection. This is true for most protozal infections carried by insects.
  4. Many parasites has life cycle that requires enough time to allow for the various stages to mature, either in soil or in an insect or host.