Have you ever seen those little white bits on your cat or dog fur, or even in their faeces, which look like a grain of rice? That is a tapeworm segment and it contains tapeworm eggs – it is not itself a worm.
The packet dries and releases the eggs into the surroundings. Sometimes it is still moist and has some movement like it is squeezing then expanding.
The mouthparts attach to the intestine and then the thing grows segment after segment of egg packets.
There are many species of tapeworms, but the common ones found in our pets include Dipylidium caninum, Taenia species and another called Echinococcus. Funny names, difficult to spell and pronounce.
They have some things in common and one is that they need another species besides a dog ca or human to complete their lifecycle. See the two animations to get an idea of this.
How do cats and dogs get tapeworms?
First, a tapeworm egg must be ingested by a flea larva, an immature stage of the flea. Once inside the larval flea, the tapeworm egg continues to develop as the larval flea matures into an adult flea.
During grooming, or in response to a flea bite, the cat inadvertently swallows the flea. As the flea is digested within the cat’s intestine, the tapeworm egg is released, hatches, and then anchors itself to the intestinal lining, therefore completing the lifecycle.
Unlike other intestinal parasites, cats cannot become infected by eating tapeworm eggs. Tapeworms must first pass through the flea (the intermediate host) before they can infect the cat.
The same pattern occurs in the dog.
According to Ernest Ward, some tapeworm infects dogs and cats when they eat raw meat such as when catching and eating mice, rabbits (in countries that have them), and other small mammals or when owners feed their pets a raw diet. If your dog or cat is a hunter, regular deworming may be needed. This is one of many reasons raw meat is not recommended for your dog or cat.
Heavy tapeworm infestation can be serious. But, as with other intestinal parasites, the tapeworm can cause more damage to puppies and kittens. Lack of growth, anaemia, and intestinal blockages can occur.
Humans can become infected with Dipylidium caninum tapeworms, although infection is rare because it requires ingestion of a flea. Most reported cases have involved children living in less-than-ideal conditions. The risk for human infection with this type of tapeworm is quite remote but does exist.
Remember when we said there are many species of tapeworm? Well, here are some more to consider. Taeniasis in humans is a parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm species Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm). A truly global parasite.
Parasitologists study parasites – their life cycles, where they are found and what can be used for prevention and cure. We could use this kind of information in Fiji to know the full extent of what parasites we have and how to deal with them.
- JO OLVER is a doctor of veterinary medicine with SPCA Fiji Islands. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the views of this newspaper.