Dipylidium caninum (double-pored tapeworm)
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Epidemiology
- common tapeworm of dogs & cats in most parts of world
- also infects humans, especially children
- tapeworm eggs are ingested by flea larvae
- cysticercoid larvae persist as flea larvae mature into adult
- ingestion of the flea containing the infectious cisticercoid results in infection
- children are at high risk because of close contact with pets
Pathology
- worms mature in intestine
- may grow to length of 70 cm
Clinical manifestations
- generally produce few or no symptoms
Laboratory
- diagnosis based upon finding of eggs or proglottids in feces
- eggs
- proglottids
Management
- praziquantel 10-20 mg/kg PO once
- niclosamide 2 g PO once