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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Cestodes are long, flat, ribbon-like organisms commonly called tapeworms All tape worms consist of long, multi-segmented body. Cuticle of the body is provided with pores through which the worm takes its nutrients (no digestive system)
The mature Cestode - lives in the hosts intestines where it can obtain all its food for free. -have no digestive system of their own, -simple absorb nutrients from their hosts guts. -entire surface of their body is covered with microscopic wrinkles or projections which greatly increase the surface area available for the absorption of nutrients.
The adult worm is divided into 3 distinct parts: -Head (scolex) -neck -strobilla
THE HEAD, OR SCOLEX, OF HYMENOLEPIS. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR IN THIS PICTURE, THE SCOLEX HAS NO HOOKS, BUT
POSSESSES FOUR SUCKERS WHICH ENABLE IT TO EMBED SECURELY IN THE WALL OF THE RAT'S INTESTINE.
THE
THE TERMINAL PROGLOTTID OF THE SPECIMEN OF THE PREVIOUS PICTURES. IN THESE MATURE OR "RIPE" SECTIONS, THE OVARIES AND TESTES HAVE DEGENERATED, AND ALMOST
THE ENTIRE PROGLOTTID IS OCCUPPIED BY A BRANCHED UTERUS FILLED WITH EGGS, SOME OF WHICH ARE VISIBLE THROUGH THE THICKENED CUTICLE.
Strobilla: the long segmented body consists of segments which are of three types (i) the immature segments which follow the neck region (ii) the mature segments containing both sex organs and are responsible for reproduction (iii) the gravid segments filled with fertilized eggs
Several species parasitise humans after being consumed in underprepared meat such as pork (Taenia solium), beef (T. saginata), and fish (Diphyllobothrium spp.), or in food prepared in conditions of poor hygiene (Hymenolepis spp. or Echinococcus spp.)
The Class Cestoda is divided into two subclasses: the Cestodaria the Eucestoda
The Cestodaria -contains all the animals we usually think of as tapeworms - The Cestodaria contains only a few species of unusual worms -their bodies are unsegmented and roughly oval in shape, -they have only one set of reproductive organs and the larvae have 10 hooks for attachment.
The Eucestoda contains very few species that do not conform to the standard tapeworm body plan The larvae have 6 attachment hooks. The adult body consists of a head, called a 'Scolex' which is distinguished by the presence of suckers and hooks. Because they live in darkness there are no eyes, and because they do not feed in the usual manner there is no mouth.