Taenia multiceps - coenurus cerebralis

Question 1

IH of Taenia multiceps

Answer 1

Ruminants

Question 2

FH of Taenia multiceps

Answer 2

dogs & other canids

Question 3

location of Taenia multiceps

Answer 3

IH: brain & spinal cord
FH: SI

Question 4

Morhology of Taenia multiceps

Answer 4

Up to 1 m, rounded scolex with 4 suckers, rostellum with 2 rows of 22-32 rostellar hooks, neck, 250-300 proglottids

Question 5

Pathognesis of Taenia multiceps

Answer 5

Coenurus cerebralis – can occur in both an acute and chronic disease form.

• Acute form – Occurs during migratory phase of the disease. Usually 10 days after ingestion of large numbers of tapeworm eggs. Young lambs aged 6-8 weeks are most likely to show disease. Can give reddish or grey purulent tracks in the brain. Can also block cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical signs for this are typically inflammatory or allergic reaction. Meningoencephalitis.
• Chronic form – Typically occurs in sheep of 16-18 months of age. The time taken for the larvae to hatch, migrate and grow large enough to present nervous dysfunction varies from 2-6 months. First signs are behavioral. As cyst grows, the clinical signs are seen as depression, unilateral blindness, circling, altered head position, incoordination, paralysis and lies down.

8 months to mature in the CNS.

Question 6

CS of Taenia multiceps

Answer 6

IH: Ataxia, blindness, stumbling, paralysis, painless nodules. head pressing, circling behaviour.
FH: usually asymptomatic, abdominal discofort, weight loss

Question 7

Dx of Taenia multiceps

Answer 7

• Necropsy: brain
• Biopsy: coenurus in various organs
• Serology, CT/MRI
• PM findings: cysts in cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum and spinal cord
• Eggs in feces

Question 8

Tx of Taenia multiceps

Answer 8

IH: surgical removal & albendazole
FH: praziquantel, fenbendazole

Question 9

Control of Taenia multiceps

Answer 9

• Ensuring that dogs (sheepdogs) do not have access to heads of slaughtered and dead sheep or goats.
• It is essential that all sheep carcasses are buried as soon as possible.
• Regular deworming of FH 6-8 weeks.

Question 10

Taenia multiceps - human coenurus

Answer 10

Cestodosis characterized by meningoencephalitis from Taenia multiceps.
Located in brain, spinal cord. There are three stages:
Stage 1 - meningoencephalitis. Stage 2 - Asymtomatic.
Stage 3 - deterioration of health condition.
Therapy is surgical removal and albendazole.

Question 11

LC of Taenia multiceps

Answer 11

1. Adult taenia is attached to the SI of FH & shed gravid proglottids with eggs in the faeces. The eggs get released from the proglottid.
2. Embryonated eggs are ingested by IH – oncosphere hatches in SI – hexacanth larva penetrate into the intestinal wall and enters the blood stream – migrates to CNS and develops into coenurus (7-9 months) – slowly enlarges and causes fatal disease in sheep. Only those parasites which reach the NS will develop into a fully developed coenurus
3. FH ingested infected IH with coenurus – attach to SI, release gravid proglottids when ready – cycle is repeated.
   NB! **Humans can be accidental IH. **

Question 12

Metacestode of Taenia multiceps

Answer 12

cysticercus cerebralis