File:Single proglottid.jpg

Summary

Under a very low magnification of only 8X; this photomicrograph revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology exhibited by three Taenia solium proglottids. Proglottids of Taenia spp. Gravid proglottids are longer than wide and the two species, T. solium and T. saginata, differ in the number of primary lateral uterine branches: T. solium contains 7-13 lateral branches and T. saginata 12-30 lateral branches. Adults of Taenia spp. can reach a length of 2-8 meters, but the hooked scolex, located at the head region, is only 1-2 millimeters in diameter. Taeniasis is the infection of humans with the adult tapeworm of Taenia saginata or Taenia solium. Humans are the only definitive hosts for these two tapeworm species. Clinical Features:

Taenia saginata taeniasis produces only mild abdominal symptoms. The most striking feature consists of the passage (active and passive) of proglottids. Occasionally, appendicitis or cholangitis can result from migrating proglottids. T. solium taeniasis is less frequently symptomatic than T. saginata taeniasis. The main symptom is often the passage (passive) of proglottids. The most important feature of T. solium taeniasis is the risk of development of cysticercosis.

Copyright status:

this image was first published by the Center For Disease Control and is a publishable image

Source:

http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp