Dog Tapeworm Infection (flea/cucumber/double-pored tapeworm)

Dipylidium caninum

CESTODES (TAPEWORMS)

1. asymptomatic2. Pets may exhibit behavior to relieve anal pruritis (such as scraping anal region across grass or carpeting)3. most striking feature in animals and children consists of the passage of proglottids

• 1. dog or cat flea ingests egg packets
• 2. larval stages of the dog or cat flea(Ctenocephalides spp.) and occasionally Trichodectescanis (the dog louse)

1. dogs and cats, but is occasionally found in humans

• 1. Humans also acquire infection by ingesting the cysticercoid contaminated flea.
• 2. Children are most frequently infected, possibly due to close contact with flea infested pets.

The diagnosis is made by demonstrating the typical proglottids or egg packets in the stool or the environment