e g Taenia whole mount Taenia solium gravid

e. g. : Taenia whole mount Taenia solium gravid proglottid Taenia solium scolex Taenia saginata gravid proglottid Taenia saginata scolex

Habitat Taenia saginata is commonly named the beeftapeworm and T. solium is named pork tapeworm. Cattle and pigs are the intermediate hosts of T. saginata and T. solium respectively. These tapeworms are generally found in the middle third of the intestine. �

Morphology � Scolex: equipped with organs of attachment: suckers, hooks, grooves � � Neck : germinal or growth portion Strobila: �Proglottids �Immature proglottid �Mature proglottid �gravid proglottid

scolex The scolex of T. saginata is provided with four suckers. The scolex of T. solium, besides having the four suckers, has a rostellum on which there is a double circle of alternating large and small hooklets

Mature proglottid

Gravid proglottid Uterus has 7 -13 branches Uterus has 15 -20

Nutrition: There is no digestive system, the worms obtain the required food by pinocytosis through the tegument from the digested food materials found in the intestine of the host. Respiration: This appears to be largely anaerobic Excretory system: Inbetween the parenchyma cells, there are numerous flame cells which lead into excretory ductules opening into the main excretory ducts. At the anterior part of the worm, there are 2 pairs of main excretory ducts; one pair on each side of the strobila, one dorsal and one ventral. However, at the distal part of the body there are only two lateral excretory canal. These two lateral excretory canals are joined together at the posterior end of each proglottid by transverse excretory canal. At the end of the last proglottid in the strobila, there are two excretory pores through which the lateral excretory canals open.

Life cycle

Life cycle of Taenia saginata