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Hymenolepis diminuta (rat tapeworm)
Epidemiology:
1) world-wide distribution
2) occasionally infects humans
3) arthropod intermediate host (flea)
4) human infection generally occurs after ingestion of infected flea
Pathology:
1) adult tapeworms develop in the small intestine
2) tapeworms may grow to 60 cm in length
3) proglottids have genital pore on one side
4) scolex lacks an armed rostellum
Clinical manifestations:
1) generally asymptomatic because wormload is usually low
2) abdominal discomfort has been reported
Laboratory:
1) diagnosis made by finding eggs in feces
2) moderately thick-shelled, slightly ovoid, yellow-brown
3) 70-85 by 60-80 um in diameter
4) eggs lack polar filaments, as distinguished from H. nana
1) praziquantel 25 mg/kg PO once
a) treatment of choice
b) active against both adult worm & cysticercoids in intestinal villi
2) niclosamide
a) 2 g PO day 1, then 1 g PO QD for 6 days
b) active against both adult worm; ineffective against cysticercoids
3) personal hygiene & improved sanitation
Related
arthropod
flea (Siphonaptera)-borne infection
proglottid
rostellum
scolex
General
Hymenolepis
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: helminth
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/