VPA 211: General Veterinary Parasitology and Helminthology (3+1)

ANOPLOCEPHALA PERFOLIATA

Family	Anoplocephalidae
Species	Anoplocephala perfoliata
Common name	Dwarf tapeworm of horse, ‘lappet tapeworm’.
Location	Small and large intestine

Morphology

• Adults are upto 5 – 8 cm in length.
• Scolex has lappet behind the each sucker.
• Segments are wider than long.
• Segments have single set of reproductive organ.
• Genital pore is marginal.

Life cycle

• Oribatid mite (grass/soil mite) act as a I/H - common species Scheloribates laevigatus.
• Eggs are passed in the faeces of the host and are ingested by oribatid mite.
• Eggs are hatch out in the I/H and develops into cysticercoid in about 4 months.
• Final host get the infection by ingestion of infected mite along with herbage.
• Prepatent period is 4 to 6 weeks.

Pathogenesis

• Common tapeworm of horse. Light infection cause no clinical signs.
• But large numbers causes ill health, unthriftiness and even death may occur. Usually the worms are localized in the ileo-caecal orifice, it causes partial occlusion of ileo-caecal orifice.
• At the site of scolex attachment a small dark depressed ulcerative lesion may be seen.
• Perforation of intestine also recorded.

Treatment

• Mebendazole: 15 to 20 mg / Kg b wt. (Oral)
• Niclosamide: 88 mg / Kg b wt. (Oral)
• Bithionol: 7 mg / Kg b wt. (Oral)