Taenia pisiformis

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Taenia pisiformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Cestoda
Order: Cyclophyllidea
Family: Taeniidae
Genus: Taenia
Species

Species Taenia pisiformis

Taenia pisiformis is a tapeworm. It is related to Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, and to Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm.

Taenia pisiformis egg
Taenia pisiformis egg

The adult may reach up to 200 cm in length. The definite host is represented by carnivores such as the dog or the cat.

The intermediate host is represented by hares and rabbits, in which we find the mesacestoide (the larval stage) known as: cysticercus pisiformis. This is found in the peritoneum of the intermediate host and can be ingested by the definite host when the dog or cat feed on the viscera of such an infected intermediate.