พยาธิตัวตืด (Dipylidium caninum)

Key Facts

• ONLY transmitted by swallowing an infected flea — no other route for Dipylidium
• Segments look like grains of rice (fresh/moving) or sesame seeds (dried)
• Adult worm can be 6+ inches long, anchored by hooks to intestinal wall
• Generally causes little harm — mainly cosmetically disturbing to owners
• Fecal flotation tests often miss tapeworms — segments must break open for eggs to be seen
• Treatment: praziquantel (injection, tablet, or topical) or epsiprantel
• Fenbendazole does NOT work against Dipylidium caninum
• Key to eradication: flea control — recurring tapeworms = ongoing flea problem
• Takes 3 weeks from flea ingestion to visible segments
• Humans can theoretically get infected but must swallow an infected flea
• Taenia genus tapeworms: different species acquired from eating prey animals