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Taenia (tapeworm)
Overview
Taenia is a genus
of tapeworm
that includes some important parasites of livestock. Members of the genus are responsible for taeniasis
and cysticercosis
in humans. There are more than 100 species
recorded. They are morphologically
characterized by a ribbon-like body composed of a series of segments called proglottids; hence the name Taenia (Greek tainia meaning ribbon, bandage or stripe). The anterior end of the body is the scolex.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of tapeworm
Cestoda
This article describes the flatworm. For the medical condition, see Tapeworm infection.Cestoda is the name given to a class of parasitic flatworms, commonly called tapeworms, of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Its members live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults, and often in the bodies...
that includes some important parasites of livestock. Members of the genus are responsible for taeniasis
Taeniasis
Taeniasis is a form of tapeworm infection which is caused by tapeworms of the genius Taenia.The two most important human pathogens in the genus are Taenia solium and Taenia saginata . Infection is acquired by eating undercooked contaminated meat. The adult worms live in the lumen of the intestine...
and cysticercosis
Cysticercosis
Cysticercosis refers to tissue infection after exposure to eggs of Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm. The disease is spread via the fecal-oral route through contaminated food and water, and is primarily a food borne disease. After ingestion the eggs pass through the lumen of the intestine into the...
in humans. There are more than 100 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
recorded. They are morphologically
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
characterized by a ribbon-like body composed of a series of segments called proglottids; hence the name Taenia (Greek tainia meaning ribbon, bandage or stripe). The anterior end of the body is the scolex.
