Tapeworm infestations in ruminants can cause both larval and adult tapeworm infections. Some of the more common tapeworms that can infect ruminants include Moniezia expansa, Taenia multiceps, and Echinococcus granulosus. T. multiceps can cause cerebral coenurosis when the larval stage (Coenurus cerebralis) is present in the brain, leading to neurological signs. Diagnosis involves finding eggs or proglottids in feces or detecting cysts in the brain or other organs postmortem. Treatment typically involves praziquantel or other anthelmintics. Control relies on treating infected animals and controlling intermediate hosts like mites.

1. Tapeworm infestations in
ruminants
Dr. Preeti

2. Tapeworms of Ruminants
Larval tapeworm infestations
Taenia multiceps – Coenurus
cerebralis
T. gaigeri- Coenurus gaigeri
T. ovis- Cysticercus ovis
T.hydatidena – Cysticercus
tenuicollis
Taenia saginata – Cysticercus bovis
Echinococcus granulosus- Hydatid
cyst
• Adult tapeworm infestations
Moniezia expansa
M. benedeni
Avitellina spp.
 Stilesia hepatica
Thysanosoma actinioides

3. Adult tapeworm infestations
.
Moniezia expansa
Stilesia hepatica
Thysanosoma actinioides

4. Genus Parasite Definitive
host
Intermedi
ate host
Prediliction
site
Type of
metacestode
Moniezia
(They can
reach up to
10 m in
length. M.exp
ansa can be
up to 1.5 cm
wide)
Moniezia
expansa/ Double
pored ruminant
tapeworm/Sheep
tapeworm
sheep,
goats,
cattle
Oribated
mites
Small
intestine
Cysticercoid
(M.benedeni
up to 2.5 cm
wide)
M. benedeni Mainly
Cattle
-do- Small
intestine
-do-
Stilesia Stilesia hepatica sheep,
goat,
cattle
-do- Bile duct -do-
S.globipunctata cattle,
goat ,
-do- Small
intestine
-do-

5. Genus Parasite Definitive
host
Intermediate
host
Prediliction
site
Type of
metacestode
Avitellina A.
centripunctata
-
sheep, goat
,Cattle &
other
ruminants
Oribated
mites/Psocid
lice (bark
lice/dust lice)
Small
intestine
Cysticercoid
A.tatia -do- -do- -do- -do-
Thysanoso
ma
T. actinioides-
“Fringed
tapeworm of
ruminants”
Sheep,
Cattle
Psocids in bile ducts,
pancreatic
ducts ,S.I
-do-
Thysaniezia Thysaniezia
ovilla
Cattle ,
sheep, goat,
wild
ruminants
Oribatid
mites
and psocids
Small
intestine
-do-

6. Life cycle
• The life cycles of all the anoplocephalid tapeworms are very similar.
Eggs pass in the feces of the host individually or protected in
proglottids
These are ingested by free-living pasture /oribatid mites (I.H) and
the the metacestode stage develops
In the mite, the oncosphere penetrates the mid-gut wall to enter the
hemocoel, where it slowly develops to cysticercoid in about four
weeks

7. Life cycle contd..
Infected oribatid mites are consumed with grasses and other forages
by ruminants while grazing
The cysticercoids are then released ,attach to the wall of the
alimentary tract of the ruminants, where they grow and mature to
adult tapeworms in about 5–6 weeks.
T. actinioides also invades biliary and pancreatic ducts,S. hepatica
lives in the bile ducts

8. Epidemiology
• Moniezia infection is common in
lambs, kids and calves during their first
year of life and less common in older
animals. A seasonal fluctuation in the
incidence of Moniezia infection can
apparently be related to active periods
of the forage mite vectors during the
summer in temperate areas.

9. Pathogenesis
• In ruminants, most of the adult tapeworms are not pathogenic, produce no
clinical signs & remain asymptomatic.
• In heavy infestations, they may compete for nutrients, excrete toxic materials
or, because of their length, interfere with the motility of the gut.
• Very heavy burdens of M. expansa in lambs have been associated with
outbreaks of enterotoxemia.
• Pancreatic and biliary duct species cause little harm, but liver damage may
cause rejection at meat inspection.

10. Clinical signs
• Most infestations are asymptomatic but heavy burdens may result in
unthriftiness; poor coat; vague digestive disturbances including
constipation, mild diarrhea, and dysentery; and sometimes anemia.
• These signs are restricted chiefly to animals less than 6 months of age which
are especially on a poor diet
• Thysanosoma actinioides- In case of massive infections the tapeworms can
almost block the ducts and disturb the flow of bile or pancreatic juice, which
can negatively affect digestion and reduce the weight gains. Otherwise there
are usually no specific clinical signs.

11. P.M lesions
• The site of attachment on the intestinal
mucosa may be indicated by the presence of
a small ulcer and a mild inflammatory
response.
• In the case of infestations with T.
actinioides and S. hepatica, presence of
worms in the biliary and pancreatic ducts is
accompanied by fibrosis and thickening of
duct walls.
Fig- Moniezia expansa

12. Diagnosis
• By analysis of the fecal sample in which eggs can
be detected or often observation of the cooked rice
shaped gravid proglottids in feces in Moniezia
infection.
• It should be pointed out that fecal egg estimation is
not an accurate index of intensity of Moniezia
infection in ruminants since eggs are present in
feces only after the proglottides have rupture
• Moniezia eggs (triangular, M. expansa;
quadrangular M. benedeni) that contain the
oncosphere.
• The eggs of M. benedeni are slightly larger than
those of M. expansa
Fig- White coloured cooked rice
grain type crumbs in feces of
calf infected with Moniezia
spp.

13. Fig- Microscopic field showing
triangular shaped Moniezia expansa
eggs (10x)
Fig- Triangular shaped
Moniezia expansa egg with
hexacanth embryo (40x)

14. Treatment
• For ruminants, Praziquantel @ 3.75 mg/kg is highly effective against
Moniezia
• for Thysaniezia spp. (5 mg/kg)
• Avitellina (7.5 mg/kg)
• S. hepatica (15 mg/kg).
• Some benzimidazole and probenzimidazole drugs have cestocidal activity
in ruminants, including albendazole, febantel, fenbendazole, mebendazole,
and oxfendazole.
• Albendazole at 7.5 mg/kg orally is effective against cestodes in the bile
ducts.

15. Prevention and control
• Control of the mites .
• In endemic zones, Ploughing and reseeding, or avoiding the use of the
same pastures for young animals in consecutive years, may prove
beneficial
• Susceptible livestock, particularly lambs can be treated
with anthelmintics effective against tapeworms.

17. Genus Parasite Definitive
host
Intermediate
host
Prediliction site Type of
metacestode
Taenia T.multiceps Dog
Fox
Jackal
Sheep
Goat
Cattle
Man
Brain and spinal
cord
(intermediate
hosts); small
intestine (final
hosts)
Coenurus
cerebralis
T. gaigeri Dog
Fox
Jackal
Sheep
Goat
Cattle
Man
Mainly
Intramuscularly
&
subcutaneously
Coenurus
gaigeri
T.Saginata
Beef
tapeworm,
‘beef measles
Man Cattle Small intestine
(definitive host);
muscle, liver,
kidney
(intermediate
host)
Cysticercus
bovis
.

18. Genus Parasite Definitive
host
Intermediat
e host
Prediliction
site
Type of
metacestode
Taenia ovis Dog, fox,
wild
carnivores
Sheep
Goat
Small
intestine (final
host); muscle
(intermediate
host)
Cysticercus
ovis
Taenia
hydatigena
Dog
Fox
Jackal
Sheep
Goat
Cattle
Pigs
Horses
Small
intestine (final
hosts);
abdominal
cavity, liver
(intermediate
hosts)
Cysticercus
tenuicollis
Echincoccu
s
E. granulosus
(Dwarf dog
tapeworm,
Dog and
many wild
canids
Domestic
and wild
ruminants,
man
Mainly liver
and lungs
(intermediate
hosts); small
intestine
Hydatid cyst

19. Cerebral coenurosis
• Cerebral Coenurosis (gid or sturdy) is caused by Coenurus
cerebralis cyst, which is a metacestode or larval stage of Taenia
multiceps and particularly affects sheep and goats
• The cysts are morphologically large, white, round or oval, have
translucent structures and numerous protoscolices attached to the
wall and scolex has a double ring of rostellar hooks
• Taenia multiceps of adult parasite matured in and inhabit the
small intestine of dogs, foxes, coyotes and jackals
• The cystic larvae are mainly found in the brain and in some
instances in the spinal cord of small ruminants and resulting in
neurological signs, such as gid, ataxia, head deviation and
blindness
• In humans, these larvae are usually found in the brain.

21. Pathogenesis
• The cerebral form of the coenurosis is referred to as either acute or
chronic gid or sturdy
• Chronic form is more common
• Acute coenurosis occurs as the result of larval migration in the central
nervous system when several viable eggs are ingested by an herbivore
• An acute meningoencephalitis may develop if a large number of
immature stages migrate in the brain and young lambs/kids aged 6-8
weeks are most likely to show signs of acute disease
• Chronic coenurosis mostly occurs in older animals of more than 6
months age, where it presents as a consequence of cyst development
and slowly create local lesion in the cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal
cord.

22. Clinical signs
• Clinical syndrome is based on location & size Coenurus cyst in brain or
spinal cord
• The clinical signs of acute form are correlated with the no. of ingested
eggs, the immune status of the host & the migrating route localization
of parasites in the brain i.e-
• If in parietal lobe: circling disease
• In frontal lobe: Head pressing
• Ventricle : reverse movement
• Cerebellum : Hyperesthetic and jerky movement
• Spinal cord : Paresis of hindlimb

23. Figs.- Goat showing signs of Coenurus cerebralis

24. Pathological findings
• Acute coenurosis- pale yellow tracts on the
surface of the brain, and in cut sections of
brainstem and cerebellum.
• Chronic coenurosis- Coenuri in the brain
cause damage to surrounding tissues,
including thinning of the cerebral grey and
white matter ,focal pressure atrophy and
liquefactive necrosis. The meninges are
hyperaemic and oedematous.
• Microscopically there are degenerative and
necrotic lesions in the brain. Within the
brain, sections of coenuri of various shapes
surrounded by marked eosinophilic
necrotic tissues
Fig.- Cerebral cyst
in Goat brain

25. Fig- Coenurus cerebralis in Sheep brain with 5 cm in
diameter transparent wall cyst (long arrow) with
clusters of white dots (short arrow).

26. Diagnosis
• Diagnosis of cerebral coenurosis in the intermediate hosts can
be made by recovery and examination of the cyst
• The disease can be diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical
signs and on the basis of the postmortem examinations
• Palpation can be done in sheep & goats for presence of soft
bulged area.
• Diagnosis of the cerebral coenurosis is dependent on the clinical
manifestations, neurological examination, ultrasound
examination
• Histomorphology of C. cerebralis and neuropathological findings

27. Fig a- Histomorphology of C.
cerebralis located in the subarachnoid
space of an adult goat brain stained
with H&E: unilocular cyst studded with
protoscolices of different sizes
Fig b-
invaginated
protoscolices with
suckers (S) and
the rostellum (R)
lined with double
rows of hooks
(H).

28. Zoonotic Importance of Cerebral Coenurosis in
human beings
• Coenuruses is a relatively rare zoonotic disease of humans,
caused by the larval stage of a dog tape worm Taenia multiceps.
• The cysts have been responsible for epilepsy, hemiplegia,
monoplegia and cerebral ataxia.
• When the spinal cord is affected there may be spastic paraplesia,
lymphadenopathy and malaise can occur
• Several years may pass between infection and the appearance of
symptoms and the symptoms varies with the neuroanatomical
localization of the coenurus
• Papilledema is a sign of increased intracranial pressure.
• The coenurus can also develop in the vitreous humor and may
affect the retina and choroid. The degree of damage to vision
depends on the size of the coenurus and the extent of the
choroido retinal lesion

29. Treatment
• Treatment is by surgical removal of the cyst
• The determination of the localization is the most problematic
factor in the successful treatment of coenuruses
• Praziquantel administration with dosage rates of 50 to 500 mg/kg
resulted in successful treatment of this metacestode.
• Combination of fenbendazole, praziquantel and albendazole at a
dose of 10 mg/kg for 3 days is effective in treating early infection
of T. multiceps larvae in goats.
• The Taeniasis in the definitive host such as dog and wild calids
can be treated with praziquantel, epsiprantel, mebendazole,
febantel and fenbendazole

30. Control and prevention
• Cerebral coenurosis can be controlled by regular anthelmintic
treatment of dogs at 6–8 week intervals, by using an effective
taenicide
• Correct disposal of sheep and goat brain after slaughtering or
death of animals to prevent scavenging by dogs
• Public awareness of the epidemiology of the coenurus cerebralis
• Back yard slaughtering or illegal butcheries should be prohibited
by the law.

31. Non cerebral coenurus: Coenurus gaigeri
• Coenurus gaigeri, the metacestode of T. gaigeri has been
reported in the subcutaneous tissues of sheep and goats.
• D.H- dogs
• The cysts are commonly located in intramuscular or
subcutaneously
• Depending on the cyst location, there may be impede with
locomotion, feeding, or function of internal organs.

32. • The Coenurus cysts develop slowly over several months
to become mature in six to eight months .As the cyst
matures, it develops into a large, delicate, thin
translucent fluid containing cyst, measuring commonly
about 5-6 cm in diameter.
• Sites of prediction - of the metacestode including
neck muscle, eyelid, skin thigh muscles,abdominal
muscles heart , kidney and lymphnodes especially in
goats
• Physical examination of the swellings reveals a
fluctuating fluid filled cavity & fine needle aspiration a
clear fluid indicative of cyst
• Microscopically, each cyst with several protoscolices
invaginated in clusters on the cyst wall seen. Each
scolex has 4 suckers & rostellum

34. Fig- Larvae of Coenurus gigari-
multiple scolex
Fig- Coenurus cyst & protoscolices
invaginated in clusters on the cyst
wall

35. Echinococcosis
• Echinococcosis/hydatidosis, is a zoonotic infection by
the larval (metacestode) stage of the genus
Echinococcus.
• Echinococcus granulosus - causes cystic echinococcosis
• It is characterized by long-term growth of metacestode
stage (hydatid cysts) in internal organs (mainly the
liver and lungs) of intermediate host sheep and goats.
• Worldwide distribution
• The distribution of E. granulosus is higher in
developing countries, especially in rural communities
where there is close contact between the dog, the
definitive host and various domestic animals, which
may act as intermediate host

36. Life cycle
• D.H- Dogs
• I.H – Sheep & other herbivores
• Adult forms are present in the small
intestine of D.H& spread millions of
parasite eggs on defecation.
• Sheep and other herbivorous animals
becomes infected when they eat herbs
contaminated with these eggs, or humans
become infected when they eat food
contaminated with eggs.
• Oncosphere which comes out of the egg
adheres to intestinal wall with its hooks,
then enters into circulation and reaches
firstly to the liver, followed by the lungs,
and less frequently the spleen, kidneys,
heart, bones, central nervous system, and
other organs.

37. Clinical signs
• Infection in animals is generally not
associated with clinical signs.
• Human infection can result in
respiratory distress or abdominal
enlargement depending on whether
the lungs or liver are infected
• If a cyst rupture, there is a risk of
death from anaphylaxis
• P.M lesions- In sheep, about 70% of
hydatids occur in the lungs, about
25% in the liver, and the remainder
in other organs.
Fig- Hydatid cysts in Liver
of infected sheep

38. Diagnosis
• Because of vague clinical signs ,diagnosed
on the presence of proglottides in feces and
on perianal area.
• Examination of the slaughtered animals
viscera such as liver, lungs and other
organs is the only practical way for the
diagnosis of the hydatid disease
• Hydatid fluid (hydatid sand) aspirated
from a cyst through the opening of a cyst
may show the presence of protoscolices
• In humans, imaging techniques including
ultrasonography, CT scanning and MRI
supported by immunological assays for
confirmation of clinical diagnosis.
• ELISA has been described for several
groups for the detection of antigens
released by cestodes
Fig- Echinococcus egg
Fig- Echinoccocus protoscolices

39. Treatment
Praziquantel- 5mg/kg b.wt
• Epsiprantel- 5.5 mg/kg b.wt
In humans- open surgical removal of the cysts combined with
chemotherapy using albendazole and/or mebendazole before and
after surgery.
• However, if there are cysts in multiple organs or tissues, or the
cysts are in risky locations, surgery becomes impractical. For
inoperable cases such as these, chemotherapy and/or PAIR
(puncture-aspiration-instillation-reaspiration) become alternative
options of treatment.
• In the case of alternative treatment using just chemotherapy,
albendazole is preferred twice a day for 1–5 months

40. Prevention and control
• Dogs should not be fed raw meat from slaughtered animals.
• Introduction of appropriate meat inspection
• Strict hygiene measures like hand washing after animals
handling, in particular dogs.
• Echinococcus vaccines would ideally prevent oncosphere
development to hydatid cysts in sheep, and thus stop the
development of adult gravid tapeworms in dogs
• Vaccination with a recombinant oncospheral EG95 induces high
degree of protection
• Treating dogs with an anthelmintic (praziquantel) to kill the
adult tapeworm

41. Ovine cysticercosis
• Infection of small ruminants with the larva of the cestode, Taenia
ovis, referred to as Cysticercus ovis or ‘sheep measles’,
• Occurs worldwide
• D.H- Dogs I.H- Sheep, Goat
• Life cycle same as Echinococcosis
• It is not a zoonotic parasite
• The presence of viable or calcified cysts in meat and other organs
of sheep and goats results in condemnation of the organs or even
the entire carcass at post-slaughter inspection.

42. • T. ovis was found more often in the heart
muscle of sheep; however, infections in the
masseter muscle, diaphragm, and triceps
can also occurs.
• The mature, ovoid white cysticerci are
grossly visible in the cardiac and skeletal
musculature of sheep and goats.
Commonly the cysticerci are degenerated
with, caseous or calcified centre.
• Diagnosis through the identification of
cysts at meat inspection.
• Treatment with Praziquantel
• The control measures include regular
treatments of dogs with anthelmintics and
a ban on feeding dogs with contaminated
muscles or organs
Fig- Cysticercus ovis in
cardiac muscle of sheep

43. Cysticercus tenuicollis
• The larval stage of Taenia hydatigena is Cysticercus tenuicollis
which reported in a wide variety of mammalian hosts such as sheep,
goat, cattle, pig
• The larva C. tenuicollis was found attached to different visceral
organs such as serous surface of liver, spleen, lung, greater
omentum, intestinal mesentery, kidney, heart
• Dogs and wild canids are infested by consuming the cysticercus in the
intermediate host. The intermediate host is infected through the
ingestion of tapeworm eggs that hatch in the intestine.
• The oncospheres, infective to sheep, cattle and pigs, are carried in the
blood to the liver in which they migrate for about 4 weeks before they
emerge on the surface of this organ and attach to the peritoneum.
• Within a further 4 weeks each develops into the characteristically large
metacestode, Cysticercus tenuicollis

44. Fig- Cysticercus tenuicollis cyst of infected sheep attached to the omentum.
The cysts looks as long necked bladder worm, consisting of a transparent
membrane with clear fluid filed cyst cavity.

45. • Adult tapeworms in dogs are usually asymptomatic.
However, in heavy infections there may be
gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhoea,
abdominal pain and anal pruritis that result from the
migration of proglottids from the perianal area
• Massive infections can cause traumatic hepatitis when
numerous larvae migrate through the liver.
• Economic damage is mainly due to condemnation of
livers and other organs at slaughter.
• Diagnosis on post-mortem after carcass examination
• Treatment- Niclosamide, praziquantel, or multiple
doses of mebendazole or fenbendazole

46. Bovine cysticercosis
• T. saginata known as beef tapeworm , it causes anorexia, loss of
weight, abdominal pain and digestive upset.
• T. saginata has two different stages in the life cycle, in
intermediate host (cattle) and final host (human).
• Larval stage (Cysticercus bovis) occurs in heart and skeletal
muscles of intermediate host and adult worm locates in intestine
of final host.
• Human infection by consuming of infected raw or semi-cooked
beef. (zoonotic)
• The infection is a problem in countries where considerable rare
(i.e. undercooked) beefsteak is consumed and wider in developing
countries where hygienic conditions are poor.

48. Transmission –
• Cattle usually get infected by grazing on pasture
contaminated by human feces (which can come from
sewage water or direct pollution).Human get infected by
eating unproperly cooked meat (<60°C)
Clinical signs-
• In Cattle- Live cattle show no symptoms, so that it becomes
extremely important to identify the cysts during meat inspection.
• However heavy infections may cause myocarditis and
heart failure associated with developing cysts in the
heart.
• In Humans, the adult tapeworm may produce diarrhoea
and hunger pains, but the infection is usually
asymptomatic

49. Figs- Cysticercus bovis in cattle meat
Post-mortem findings Lesions consist of cysticerci in cysts, they are 5-8
mm by 3-5 mm, translucid and filled with a brownish to pinkish liquid,
sometimes the 'head' of the metacestodes can be see as a white spot.
Cysts are essentially found in the following: Heart,Tongue,Masseter
muscle, Diaphragm,Shoulder muscles,Intercostal muscles

50. • Diagnosis- It is difficult in live animals to diagnose the presence
of C. bovis in the muscles. Thus diagnosis can be performed only
at post mortem examinations by direct observation of C. bovis in
the muscles.
• In Humans- Examination of feces for presence of proglottids.
• Treatment- Praziquantel- 10mg/kg
• In humans – Niclosamide- 2gram orally
• Control is done through public hygiene and proper meat
inspection at slaughterhouse.

51. Thankyou