Hymenolepis diminuta (rat tapeworm)
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Epidemiology
- world-wide distribution
- occasionally infects humans
- arthropod intermediate host (flea)
- human infection generally occurs after ingestion of infected flea
Pathology
- adult tapeworms develop in the small intestine
- tapeworms may grow to 60 cm in length
- proglottids have genital pore on one side
- scolex lacks an armed rostellum
Clinical manifestations
- generally asymptomatic because wormload is usually low
- abdominal discomfort has been reported
Laboratory
- diagnosis made by finding eggs in feces
- moderately thick-shelled, slightly ovoid, yellow-brown
- 70-85 by 60-80 um in diameter
- eggs lack polar filaments, as distinguished from H. nana
- praziquantel 25 mg/kg PO once
- treatment of choice
- active against both adult worm & cysticercoids in intestinal villi
- niclosamide
- 2 g PO day 1, then 1 g PO QD for 6 days
- active against both adult worm; ineffective against cysticercoids
- personal hygiene & improved sanitation
More general terms
Additional terms
References
- ↑ Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods, 19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 1289
- ↑ Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed. Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 933
- ↑ Wkipedii: Hymenolepis diminuta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymenolepis_diminuta
- ↑ Animal Diversity Web University of Michigan: Museum of Zoology Hymenolepis diminuta http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hymenolepis_diminuta/