Cucumber tapeworm in cats - treatment, prevention, photo

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Cucumber tapeworm in cats is a common disease among both stray cats and pets. This type of parasite has an impressive size compared to its counterparts.

Cucumber tapeworm in cats is a common disease among both stray cats and pets. This type of parasite has an impressive size compared to its counterparts. The length of an adult tapeworm varies from forty to eighty centimeters. However, cases have been recorded in which the helminth reached a full meter in length . The width of the worm does not exceed three millimeters, and its color varies from white to pale pink. In medicine, infection with cucumber tapeworm is called dipylidosis.

The difficulty of treating cucumber tapeworm in cats lies in the structural features of the helminth itself. In each segment of its body, larvae can develop, viable on their own. It is important to ensure that after the cucumber tapeworm is expelled from the cat’s body, all the larvae leave with it.

Characteristics of the pathogen

The cucumber tapeworm is a parasite that lives in the intestines of animals. This is a tapeworm, the length of which, according to various estimates, ranges from 40 to 70 cm; some individuals can reach 1.5 meters. The thickness is 2.5–3 mm. The parasite has a head, and its body consists of segments - identical elements connected to each other like train cars (see photo).

The head of the worm is equipped with suction cups for attaching to the inner walls of the intestine and a proboscis through which it feeds. In each segment, parasite eggs mature, wrapped in a viscous substance that forms a cocoon. When the larvae mature, they, together with the segment, separate from the body of the parent. The eggs are then passed out in the host's stool so they can be passed into someone else's body.

In each segment, from 7 to 20 worm eggs can mature, resistant to sunlight, moisture and heat. The eggs, along with feces, remain on the surface of the earth for a long time.

Cats, dogs, jackals, foxes and even humans can become infected with dipilidia. This is possible when infected lice and fleas enter the digestive tract, which can occur through close contact with a cat or dog. More often, children who actively play with animals, hug and kiss them, become victims of the cucumber tapeworm.

Treatment

Most often, complex treatment is prescribed, which includes:

The causative agent of feline tapeworm (dipilidiosis) is a tapeworm belonging to the class of cestodes.

An adult worm ranges from 10 to 70 cm in length and 2-3 cm in width.

The appearance of ripe segments resembles cucumber seeds, which is why dipilidia is sometimes called not only cat tapeworm, but also cucumber tapeworm.

The cucumber tapeworm segments have small cocoons with eggs developing inside them. Each segment contains from 8 to 21 eggs.

After maturation and entry into the external environment of the proglottids along with feces, the eggs leave the segments and begin an independent existence.

Cucumber tapeworm parasite: symptoms and treatment

The cucumber tapeworm is a parasite related to tapeworms, the result of which is dipylidia. The ideal habitat for adult individuals is the body of dogs and cats, but there are cases when they are found in people. Often, helminths affect children's bodies because they spend a lot of time with their pets.

An adult worm is a long, thin specimen, reaching up to 70 cm in length and 3 mm in width. The head consists of a proboscis, suckers and hooks with which it clings to the intestinal walls.

The body of the parasite is covered with segments resembling cucumber seeds, which gave rise to the name of the helminth. Each of them contains cocoons in which helminth eggs develop.

The number of the latter can reach from 8 to 21 pieces in one capsule.

Mature segments, which are also called proglottids, are separated from the body of the worm and leave the animal or human body during bowel movements. At this point, the life cycle of the cucumber tapeworm begins.

The cucumber tapeworm lives in the body of a flea for 18-30 days.

Cucumber tapeworm

The ultimate goal of the helminth is to live in the intestines of animals of the canine family, which include domestic and yard dogs, foxes, wolves, and raccoons. They are called the definitive host of the parasite. Sometimes cats play his role, less often people. Intermediate hosts of helminths are fleas and dog lice eaters.

The cucumber tapeworm enters the body of animals through wool, water or food that contains infected insects. The goal has been achieved, the helminth has entered the body of the main host, where it instantly clings to the intestinal walls, and after a day it turns into a sexually mature individual capable of producing offspring.

A single representative of the cucumber tapeworm in the intestines is not dangerous to humans and animals. It does not cause any unpleasant sensations to its owner, therefore, at the initial stage, dipylidiosis is asymptomatic. Signs of the disease begin to appear in the event of a massive accumulation of parasites. It is worth separately studying the symptoms of intestinal helminth damage in animals and in humans.

Symptoms in animals

As already noted, often the presence of helminths in the body of cats and dogs goes unnoticed, since there are no obvious symptoms. The presence of parasites may be indicated by problems with the gastrointestinal tract, stool disorders, intestinal bleeding and volvulus.

Possible infection from a cat

Symptoms of dipilidia often manifest as injury and damage to the mucous membrane of the small intestine.

The animal may begin to have an allergic reaction to the waste products of helminths, which will affect its appearance.

In the life cycle of the cucumber tapeworm, there is a migratory phase when it carries a huge number of pathogenic bacteria throughout the host’s body, which often causes various diseases.

The clinical picture of dipylidia in animals can be characterized as follows:

pallor of the mucous membranes and skin;
discharge from the eyes;
disruption of the digestive system;
tousled fur;
convulsions;
itching of the anal passage;
stomach ache;
nausea and vomiting;
appetite uncharacteristic for the animal (increased or complete absence);
diarrhea followed by constipation;
bloating;
fatigue, lethargy or increased excitability;
exhaustion.

In rare cases, with severe infection, spontaneous release of helminth segments with feces is observed. Cucumber tapeworm in cats and dogs is more easily tolerated by adult animals; in kittens and puppies, infection with any helminths can be fatal.

Symptoms in humans

Cucumber tapeworm is extremely rare in humans, so there is no reliable and 100% assessment of its effect on the body and its reaction to parasitism. It is also not possible to determine the incubation period. Despite this, dipylidia in humans has pronounced symptoms.

Peddler - favorite dog

Among them are:

loss of appetite, increased salivation;
nausea and vomiting;
diarrhea;
severe abdominal pain, aggravated by palpation, bloating;
pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
nervous excitability;
headaches and dizziness;
itching in the anus;
rapid weight loss even with normal appetite.

Symptoms are accompanied by the release of mature segments from the anus, as well as their excretion along with feces.

Treatment of dipylidia

First of all, you need to make sure that an animal or person is infected with a cucumber tapeworm. Often suspicions arise when parasite eggs are detected in feces.

In order to determine what type of helminths have settled in the intestines, it is necessary to take tests to the laboratory. A general or biochemical test of blood, urine or stool will do. The results will be ready in a few days.

Once it becomes known that we are talking about cucumber tapeworm, you can begin to treat dipilidia.

Animal treatment

Treatment of cats and dogs consists of a set of measures, including taking medications, treatment for fleas and other parasites living in the fur, and diet. As a remedy for helminths, doctors most often prescribe drugs based on the active ingredient praziquantel. These include:

Mebendazole. Added to food at the rate of 40 mg of medication per 1 kg of animal weight, 3 times a day for 3 days.
Fenasal. It is convenient because it needs to be taken once, in a dosage of 0.2 g per 1 kg of dog weight. For a cat it is slightly less - 0.15 g per 1 kg of weight.
Fenagel. It features a convenient paste form, but is intended only for treating dogs. It is necessary to mix the product with food, for example, with porridge, at the rate of 0.1 g per 1 kg of animal, and apply to the root of the tongue.
Arecoline. A solution of a colorless and odorless substance in alcohol and water, which is also used exclusively for the treatment of dogs. Before starting the procedure, you must not give the animal food for 14 hours. After this, the medicine is mixed with milk or food, at the rate of 0.004 g per 1 kg of weight, and given to the dog. To prevent nausea, it is recommended to give the dog an aqueous solution of iodine (2 drops per 1 tablespoon of water) before doing this.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to give your cat raw pork, beef or chicken?

Treatment should be accompanied by disinfestation of the apartment, house or enclosure where the sick animal lives in order to avoid re-infection.

Cat treatment

Human treatment

Treatment of dipylidia in humans involves taking anti-helminth medications, which are effective against parasites of any kind. It is necessary to get acquainted with an example of treatment regimens with various means in order to determine the most suitable one in a particular case:

Praziquantel. The course of treatment is 1-2 days, depending on the severity of symptoms and clinical picture. The dosage is calculated based on a person’s body weight, 60-70 mg per 1 kg.
Fenasal or Vermitan. The entire contents of the package are diluted in 10 ml of boiling water, 100 ml of cool water is added to the resulting mass, mixed thoroughly and drunk in one serving. Before the procedure, the patient is recommended to take 2 g of sodium bicarbonate. The effect occurs after a single dose, this can be understood by the absence of helminth segments in the feces.
Male fern extract in capsules. The drug was developed specifically to combat parasites; it must be taken very carefully, strictly following the instructions that come with each package. Taking pills requires preparation. For 2 days you need to eat only light foods that are easily digestible. At the end of the 2nd day, before going to bed, a saline laxative procedure is carried out, which is described in detail in the instructions. In the morning of the 3rd day, the patient is given a cleansing enema, after which he can begin taking capsules. Within half an hour you need to drink 1 tablet every 2-3 minutes. After 3 hours, you need to repeat the saline laxative, and in the evening go to the toilet. If the stool does not appear naturally, you will have to resort to an enema.
Pumpkin seeds. They contain the substance cucurbitin, which is poisonous to parasites of any kind, which leads to instant death of the worms from intoxication and damage to the central nervous system. It is enough to eat 30-40 g of raw, roasted or dried seeds per day so that the parasites leave the body for a long time.

It is worth noting that treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. In order for it to be as effective as possible, it is recommended to remove parasites from all family members and animals if they live in the house.

Cucumber tapeworm is one of the representatives of tapeworms (cestodes), the parasitism of which occurs in the small intestine.

Most often, tapeworm infects dogs, cats, and other carnivores; helminth infestation in humans is somewhat less common.

By parasitizing the body of its definitive host, cestodes cause a disease called dipylidia. It is noteworthy that the cucumber tapeworm lives no more than a year.

Description of the helminth

The length of the cucumber tapeworm can reach from 20 to 70 centimeters, which is not a record for tapeworms; the width of the tapeworm is no more than 3 millimeters (the helminth is shown in the photo).

The worm has four suckers on the scolex, as well as a proboscis. There are 4-8 rows of hooks on the proboscis; in total, the cestode has 90 hooks. The neck of the cucumber tapeworm is thin and short.

The reproductive system is characterized as hermaphroditic.

Sexually mature segments of the helminth are similar to cucumber seeds (shown in the photo). Each segment is filled with cocoons containing eggs. The egg dimensions are 0.026 by 0.05 millimeters. The segments detach from the strobila, at this moment they already have independent activity and go out into the external environment, then eggs come out of them.

The life cycle of development of a tape parasite occurs with the participation of two hosts. The definitive hosts of cucumber tapeworm are carnivores. Infection of a person, as a rule, occurs accidentally, but in the case of invasion, he is also the definitive host.

Various ectoparasites of carnivores act as intermediate hosts, most often fleas and lice eaters.

How to treat cucumber tapeworm in cats

Cucumber tapeworm in cats is a common disease among both stray cats and pets. This type of parasite has an impressive size compared to its counterparts.

The length of an adult tapeworm varies from forty to eighty centimeters. However, cases have been recorded in which the helminth reached a full meter in length .

The width of the worm does not exceed three millimeters, and its color varies from white to pale pink. In medicine, infection with cucumber tapeworm is called dipylidosis.

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Symptoms of the disease

Often, detecting cucumber tapeworm in cats is a difficult task even for an experienced veterinarian.

The disease may be asymptomatic until the cat's body is completely weakened and filled with harmful toxins.

The favorite habitat of the helminth is the small intestine . The tapeworm deftly adheres to its walls and consumes blood along with nutrients. As a result of such intervention, the cat may suffer from intestinal bleeding. The integrity of the mucous membrane of the small intestine is compromised, which can also lead to intestinal obstruction or volvulus.

During its life, the tapeworm releases toxins that are dangerous to the health of the cat. They can cause allergies and other serious diseases. General symptoms of cat infection with dipilidiasis:

Excessive appetite or lack of appetite;
Abnormal bowel movements: diarrhea, constipation, possible alternation;
Feel the belly; a bloated belly may be a sign that your cat has an infection;
Weakening of the animal: sleeps a lot, gets tired quickly, feels a loss of strength;
The fur is dull and comes out in clumps;
Behavior has become nervous or restless;
Severe weight loss;
The mucous membranes acquired an unhealthy pallor;
Fluid comes out of the eyes.

Often an animal infected with tapeworm simply cannot sit in one place. The cat periodically fidgets on its butt due to severe itching, which is caused by helminths. Against the backdrop of continuous itching, the cat may become irritated and show aggression.

© shutterstock

Carefully monitor the behavior of your tailed friend; outbursts of aggression in a peace-loving animal are an indicator that something is wrong in its body. Random throwing around the apartment may be accompanied by convulsions. Helminths cause such severe discomfort to their carrier.

If you notice changes occurring in your pet, be sure to contact a veterinary clinic. You may just be panicking, but there is also the possibility of parasite infection.

Sometimes segments of the cucumber tapeworm can be found in the feces of an animal. Larvae in feces are an accurate sign of the appearance of parasites. Outwardly, they resemble a grain of rice and are white or white-pink in color.

Life cycle of a parasite

During its life, the cucumber tapeworm changes several hosts. First, the larva enters the cat’s intestines and begins to actively develop. It attaches to the walls and feeds on the pet’s blood. After four weeks, the worm reaches its maturity.

Segments of the worm are found in the feces of a sick animal. The larvae of the parasite often emerge along with them. They stick to the animal’s fur and calmly move throughout the entire apartment. This is why it is so important to carry out frequent cleanings and maintain hygiene at home.

Tapeworm eggs become attractive prey for fleas. And the infected flea again enters the cat’s body, leading to the development of a new worm. The cycle will repeat until one of its components disappears. The right decision would be to deal not only with the recovery of the cat, but also with getting rid of such carriers of infection as:

An insect infected with a tapeworm can end up in both a cat's and a person's stomach. Wild animals can also be carriers of helminths.

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Diagnosis and treatment

Do not try to diagnose cucumber tapeworm yourself. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian after passing the necessary tests. In order to detect tapeworm in the animal’s body, blood, feces and urine are taken for analysis. Visual examination also plays an important role in making the final diagnosis.

Symptoms of cucumber tapeworm infection coincide with some infectious diseases. Therefore, caution must be taken when making a diagnosis.

Kittens are more difficult to tolerate tapeworm than adult cats. In especially severe cases, cucumber tapeworm can lead to the death of the animal. The reason for such a sad development of events is the complications that developed against the background of the disease.

These include gastritis, enteritis or pancreatitis. Treatment of dipylidosis in cats, dogs and people is carried out with the same drugs in different dosages. Medicines can come in different forms, but the most popular ones are tablets and powders.

The most famous medicines:

Fenasal;
Quantiquantel;
Azinox;
Drontal.

The dosage of the drug is greatly influenced by the age and weight of the animal. Tablets can act differently depending on the individual sensitivity of the cat's body. Treatment of cucumber tapeworm also involves a strict diet.

Veterinarians advise eating liquid and low-fat food. Antihelminthic drugs are taken once a day before the first morning feeding.

Recovery from feline tapeworm depends primarily on the effectiveness of medications.

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A few hours after taking the medications, you can give your cat a laxative. It promotes the rapid expulsion of the tapeworm from the host’s body. After one course of treatment is completed, the next course is prescribed a month later. It is relatively easy to cure cucumber tapeworm in a cat; it is much more difficult to ensure that the tapeworm does not return to its life after some time.

Danger to humans

The cucumber tapeworm feels comfortable not only in animal bodies. Therefore, if you are wondering whether cucumber tapeworm is dangerous for humans, then the answer will be positive.

Source: https://KoshkaMurka.ru/2808-ogurechnyj-tsepen-u-koshek.html

Symptoms of dipylidia in a cat

You can be sure that an animal has dipylidiasis only by studying the results of stool tests. At the same time, there are indirect signs of cucumber tapeworm infection, which are very characteristic:

abdominal pain caused by obstruction, possible colic, flatulence, constipation, alternating with diarrhea;
enlarged, slightly swollen abdomen;
dark, almost black stool due to intestinal bleeding;
allergic reactions, rash, itching all over the body, hair loss;
itching in the anus area - the animal may try to scratch the area under the tail on the carpet or floor;
increased lacrimation, pallor of the mucous membranes.

Treatment

In the absence of timely treatment, there is a risk of kitten death. In adults, serious secondary diseases develop: gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, colitis and enteritis.

Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian.

Therapy depends on the degree of helminth damage, the cat's age and weight.

Medicines for worms include:

containing praquantel
, Quantum);
containing niclosamide
(Fenagel and Fenasal);
mebendazole
;
bunamidine
.

In addition to anthelmintic drugs, antibacterial therapy is prescribed to destroy the pathogenic microflora accompanying the cucumber tapeworm. Immunostimulating substances are prescribed.

If you notice symptoms of cucumber tapeworm infection in your cat, it is recommended to contact your veterinarian to prescribe effective therapy.

Incorrectly chosen treatment or violation of the dosage of the drug can harm the health of the cat!

Danger to humans

Borage itself feels great both in the body of animals and in the body of people. However, it is very difficult for a person to become infected with bovine tapeworm, since the principle of the disease remains the same - you need to swallow an infected flea or cat saliva. This trouble is very likely to happen only to children who are constantly in contact with a pet.

The tapeworm develops in the human body in the same way as in the body of a cat. Approximately 4 weeks after infection, the worm grows to 15-20 cm and lays larvae.

But, despite the large size of the worm, its vital activity does not often cause discomfort to the carrier.

The disease, as a rule, passes completely without symptoms and only in rare cases is the following likely:

Indigestion.
Pain in the navel area.
Itching in the anus.
Poor appetite.
Dizziness, sleep disturbance, anxiety.
Pale skin.

Diagnostic measures for infection are limited to stool examination, which probably needs to be done several times.

Treatment consists of taking medications that contain praziquantel. Medicines are used once in a dosage, which is calculated in the proportion of 7-12 mg per 1 kg of human weight. As an alternative, you can use products that contain niclosamide as the active ingredient. Antihelminthic drugs based on it are also taken once in a dosage of 3 g. To confirm the result of therapy, repeat stool examination is necessary.

If white specks that resemble rice or cucumber seeds are detected in the stool, there is no need to rush to independently diagnose an infection with feline dipylidia. It is necessary to submit feces to the laboratory to exclude infection with other varieties of tapeworm.

For humans, the chain worm is considered conditionally dangerous. The parasite usually stays in the human body for no more than one year, after which it dies. Because of their underdeveloped immunity, it is easier for children to become infected with dipilidia. Most children become infected between the ages of 5 and 12 when they play with street animals. The presence of worms in a child's body can lead to an allergic reaction, regular colds and weight loss. If a person’s disease is identified early, it can be easily treated.

Diagnostics

Fulleborn fecal analysis - a piece of feces is dissolved in a saline solution and, if larvae or their eggs are present, they float. The collection is examined under a microscope. The method is reliable, even to the point that it allows one to distinguish between different types of microorganisms.
General blood analysis.
Urine examination.

How to treat cucumber tapeworm infection? Much depends on a number of factors. Firstly, the type of parasite. Secondly, it depends on the degree of infection and the stage of development of the worm. Thirdly, on the age and immunity of the pet.

Let's look at medications that can get rid of the worm. Veterinarians often recommend the following medications:

Kanikquantel+ . Effective for kittens from 3 weeks
Quantum. Effective for kittens from 4 weeks
Drontal (Moscow). The drug is used for animals weighing more than 2 kg. A separate product, Drontal JR, is used for smaller pets over 2 weeks of age.
Fenasal. Sold in powder form. It is mixed with the cat’s favorite food at a concentration of 0.2 mg per 1 kg of animal.
Bunamidine. Use 3 hours before meals at a concentration of 0.35 mg per 1 kg of animal.
Fenagel (Moscow) . It is sold in the form of a cream that is mixed into cat food.
Mebendazole. Used in a concentration of 0.4 mg per 1 kg of animal during feeding.

Antibiotics are often used, but they are prescribed only on the recommendation of a veterinarian based on the general health of the cat. To maintain the body, medicinal solutions are used, which are administered intravenously.

IMPORTANT! After taking any drug, usually a few hours later, the cat is given a laxative to get rid of parasites. Often several courses are prescribed with a month difference in application.

As for complications, they are possible with delayed treatment. He will not talk about total exhaustion and intoxication, which affects the functioning of internal organs. Let us note the most serious consequences:

The gastric mucosa is affected - gastritis;
Problems with the pancreas – pancreatitis;
Problems with the gallbladder – cholecystitis;
Problems with the small and large intestines – enteritis and colitis, respectively.

Much attention should be paid to a restorative diet. You can use expensive dry food or natural food rich in vitamins and minerals

Diagnostic methods

Before you start fighting the parasite, it is important to get a correct diagnosis. The veterinarian can determine the presence of helminthic infestation based on the results of an external examination, a survey of the owner, and the following examinations:

Stool examination using the Fulleborn method. Feces are mixed with saline solution and filtered. The parasite larvae remain on the filter.
General blood analysis.
General urine analysis.

Treatment at home

If two or three symptoms are confirmed, then you can finally confirm the presence of parasites at home. Cucumber tapeworm eggs are round or oval. Their size reaches 40-50 microns . Individual eggs are extremely difficult to notice, but they usually lie in groups of 20-30 units . It looks like small white spots. They stand out strongly against the background of feces.

In rare cases, you can see pieces of the body of the worm itself. Unfortunately, an accurate diagnosis can only be made after an examination by a veterinarian and collection of tests.

Life cycle

The definitive hosts of parasites are dogs, sometimes cats, and in rare cases people (usually small children).
Intermediate hosts are fleas and dog lice eaters. The life cycle begins when active segments are excreted from the host in feces. After the destruction of their shells, the eggs come out. Then some of them, remaining on the dog’s body, in the bedding or on the floor, are swallowed by the larvae of intermediate hosts. Inside them, the parasite larva (oncosphere) penetrates the walls of the digestive system into the body cavity and develops into the next form - cysticercoid. The final animals are also representatives of the canine family (dogs, wolves, foxes) cats, raccoons. When a person or animal swallows an infected adult flea, infection occurs. The parasite enters the body of the final host and immediately attaches to the wall of the small intestine. There, the helminth develops into an adult worm, which reaches maturity about a month after infection. The life cycle is completed when the segments with eggs are released into the external environment with feces.

Cucumber tapeworm is found not only in homeless animals. A pet can also be dangerous to humans, so it is important to remove fleas from it in a timely manner and carry out prevention with anthelmintic drugs.

Development cycle of cucumber tapeworm

The pumpkin tapeworm develops with the obligatory participation of two hosts; a person becomes infected with the parasite completely by accident. The main carrier of helminths is fleas:

they are an intermediate host;
pathogenic forms of the worm are formed in their body.

Viable segments of the parasite emerge from the anus of the main host with feces; after penetration into the environment, the membrane of the segment is destroyed, and the eggs emerge from the capsule. After this, fleas swallow them, and with them the worms spread further.

Cucumber tapeworm can appear in a person's body after he accidentally swallows an insect that has parasites in its body. It happens that a person eats food contaminated with the fur of a sick animal.

After penetrating the small intestine, worm eggs cling to its walls; after 20 days, the sexually mature stage begins, when:

cucumber tapeworm exhibits its pathogenic properties;
clinical manifestations of the disease increase.

The cucumber tapeworm in cats and dogs goes through several stages of development, and it begins with the flea larva or lice eater swallowing the parasite's egg or a mature segment containing its eggs, which have a diameter of 0.03 mm.

The eggs of the parasite are contained in organic waste on which fleas and lice eaters feed; they become the temporary hosts of this parasite, from which this helminth ultimately reaches the main host - cats and dogs, especially often strays.

However, the eggs of the cucumber tapeworm, while remaining in the body of the flea and lice eater larvae, do not develop until the larva moves into a cocoon.

The temporary host grows and, together with the parasite, enters the gastrointestinal tract of the animal or person who swallowed such a flea.

Here, the migration of tapeworm larvae into the small intestine occurs, in which they turn into adult, sexually mature worms by the second month of life.

Individual segments - proglottids containing eggs - are released into the external environment along with the host's feces, and the cycle begins anew.

At the highest risk of cucumber tapeworm infection are small children who have uncontrolled contact with domestic and street animals, since the dangerous larvae of the parasite are transmitted in cats and humans in the same way - through feces.

True, over the past twenty years, only sixteen cases of human infection have been recorded, fourteen of them were children. The main carriers of this parasite are cats and dogs, in whose intestines this worm grows and matures.

The tapeworm development cycle begins with the release of larvae into the environment with feces. They are resistant to light, heat, moisture, and are preserved in the soil and on its surface.

The intermediate hosts of the parasite, fleas or lice eaters, consume the larva alive, and the larva begins to develop inside their body into its next form, called a cysticercoid.

With the help of fleas and lice eaters, the parasite enters the body of the final host - a cat, dog or human, where it develops into a full-fledged helminth attached to the intestinal walls.

There it grows, reaches the age of reproduction one month after being ingested and separates from itself segments with larvae, which come out with feces. The cycle is completed.

It's simple with animals. They are constantly attacked by fleas and can carry intermediate hosts - lice eaters. A person becomes infected with such a parasite through a flea that accidentally gets into the mouth, or the saliva of a heavily infected animal.

In order for an invasion to occur, the larva must be swallowed, which is why mainly children become victims of this worm. Fortunately, such a parasite does not live in the host’s body for more than a year, because after a year it loses the ability to separate its segments.

The smallest eggs of the parasite easily enter the digestive tract of fleas and lice eaters. But much more often they are swallowed by the larvae of the same varieties of bloodsuckers. In their body, a cysticercoid appears from the egg. At this stage, the parasite is already able to infect the body of the final host. Each flea can have up to 10 cysticerci. They enter the cat’s body at the moment when the cat licks itself, since parasites are often ingested at this time. In the intestines, the flea is digested, and small worms are released. The average duration of their growth is up to 24 days, after which a sexually mature individual of the helminth appears in the parasite’s intestines, intensively producing eggs.

If you carefully read the article, then you yourself can guess about the low probability of human infection with cucumber tapeworm. Still, we don’t eat fleas by the handful. But small children... They drag all visible objects into their mouths, and therefore they may well swallow a couple of infected insects. In the human body, this tapeworm does not reach its maximum size and does not cause any particular harm to health. But at the same time, it can live in its intestines for up to one year, all this time releasing substances that are of little use to our health. This is especially dangerous for children. So if your cat is diagnosed with dipylidia, be sure to consult not only a veterinarian, but also a “human” doctor.

Yes. Segments of worms leave the cat in the feces. Often the eggs are released before the segment comes out. The intermediate host ingests the eggs, the parasite embryos enter the small intestine and migrate in an immature form to various organs, depending on the Taenia species. The larva develops in a small fluid-filled vesicle (bladder), which provides it with nutrition. When the "bladder" reaches its definitive host, the worm releases its head, attaches to the intestinal wall, and begins to grow and produce new segments.

Cats can remain infected for a year or more, and the tapeworm can be up to two meters long!

Treatment methods

Therapy for invasion includes two directions - symptomatic and specific. Symptomatic treatment involves taking several types of drugs:

Antispasmodics. These remedies relieve pain.
Enzymes. Help the digestive system cope with the breakdown and processing of food.
Probiotics. Replaces intestinal microflora with beneficial bacteria.
Folic, ascorbic acid, B vitamins. Help increase the body's resistance and speed up recovery.

Specific treatment is aimed at eliminating the parasite. The following means are used:

Preparations based on praziquantel (Drontal, Kanikquantel plus, Quantum). This substance instantly increases the permeability of parasite cell membranes, which leads to their paralysis and death. In addition, praziquantel damages the epithelium of the worms and helps the animal's immune cells cope with them.
Medicines with niclosamide - Fenagel or Fenasal. These drugs are only effective against tapeworms. After taking Niclosamide, it is recommended to give the animal a laxative.
Your veterinarian may prescribe mebendazole-based medications.
Bunamidine is a substance that enhances intestinal peristaltic function, which helps get rid of the parasite faster.
Antibiotics are prescribed that eliminate pathogenic microflora, since the waste products of the cucumber tapeworm provoke its growth.

Basics of Effective Treatment

Treatment for a disease caused by cucumber tapeworm must necessarily be accompanied by treating animals with insecticidal preparations to destroy parasitic insects, only then treatment at home will give the desired effect and avoid re-infection.

After this, you need to put a flea collar on the animal. In addition, you need to very carefully treat the animal's bedding, the places where it likes to lie, and the equipment that is used to care for it.

The only difference for people and animals is the dosage - it is selected individually, depending on the patient’s weight, so the dosage for a cat will be less than for a dog.

During the period of taking anthelmintic drugs, it is advisable for both people and animals to follow a diet: eat food mainly in liquid form, significantly reduce the amount of fat in food and fatty foods.

As a rule, after taking the drug recommended by the doctor, a laxative containing salt is taken, which makes it easier for the tapeworm to detach from the intestinal mucosa.

This was the main course, and a month later a repeat course is carried out, since this is the period necessary for the remaining eggs of the cucumber tapeworm to mature and the body to finally be freed from this parasite.

True, it will take more time, and in any case it is worth consulting a doctor.

For people, a good remedy against the parasite is to include regular onions, garlic, radishes, pumpkin seeds, raw beets and carrots in the diet; Juice from sauerkraut and fresh cabbage and rosehip infusion also help.

Now you know what to do if your pet has a cucumber tapeworm and how to get rid of this parasite. However, there are situations when the issue is complicated by the cat’s pregnancy.

If a pregnant cat exhibits characteristic signs of helminthic infestation, then the optimal period for treatment is the last trimester of pregnancy (if the mating was planned, then 6 weeks after it). Otherwise, the fruit(s) may suffer due to the toxic secretions of the worms.

The removal of the parasite from the intestines of the host animal is carried out with drugs that contain the substance praziquantel. Pay attention to the drugs “Quantum” and “Kaniquantel”, they have virtually no side effects for the animal and expel the parasite from the host’s body.

The dosage of this substance should be calculated as follows: 1 mg of praziquantel per 1 kg of cat’s weight. In case of serious infestation and the need to eliminate the tapeworm as soon as possible, drugs containing niclosamide are used, for example, Phenasal, Bunamidine and Phenagel.

"Fenasal" is available in powder form. It is added to pet food at the rate of 0.2 g of powder per kilogram of animal weight. "Phenagel" can be bought in tubes - this is a medicine in the form of a paste, which must be given strictly before feeding.

To prevent the animal from resisting application to the tongue, you can mix the paste with a small portion of food and put it in the animal’s mouth so that it swallows the resulting mixture. "Bunamidine" is given at 30 mg per kilogram of live weight.

It is accepted by the body only on an empty stomach, so do not feed the animal for three hours before starting treatment. If you delay treatment and your pet suffers from severe dehydration, the veterinary clinic will put him on a drip to restore his water balance.

As for humans, they are treated for infestation with anthelmintic drugs, which create an unfavorable environment for the parasite. Enzyme preparations and probiotics may be needed to stimulate the growth of your own healthy intestinal microflora and improve poor digestion.

To treat animals against this type of parasite, insecticidal preparations should be used, which are widely used in the fight against various parasitic forms. The popularity of this group of drugs is associated not only with the quick disposal of parasites, but also with the prevention of their reappearance. Don't forget about flea collars, which can be purchased at any pet store.

For human treatment, it is recommended to use Praziquantel in the form of a single dose of 5-10 mg/kg (the dosage is determined by the attending physician). As an alternative method, you can use Niclosamide - the dosage for an adult is 2 grams, taken once or divided into two times (the interval between doses is an hour).

After finishing taking the medications presented, patients should start taking laxatives, which allow them to completely remove parasites from the body. Particular importance should be given to a second course of treatment, which should be carried out a month after the end of the main course of therapy.

In addition, while taking medications, doctors strongly recommend that people take food only in liquid form. You need to completely eliminate fatty foods from your diet.

Bull tapeworm

Taenia are more susceptible to anthelmintics than other tapeworms. Despite this, it is better to entrust the selection of a suitable drug to a veterinarian. The main method of protecting a cat from these worms is to prohibit the hunting of mice and other rodents, as well as the consumption of untested raw meat. Immature forms of worms of intermediate hosts die when frozen and heat treated.

Structure

The length of an adult worm is about 10-70 cm. The width of the parasite's body reaches 2-3 mm. The scolex (head) has a proboscis and four suckers. The anterior part of the head section contains hooks arranged in 8 rows, with which the helminth is attached to the walls of the host's intestines. Ripe segments (proglottids) look like cucumber seeds, hence the name of the parasite. Each segment contains small cocoons. They develop eggs, the size of which is up to 0.05 mm. They come out after mature proglottids become independently active and enter the external environment.

Possible complications

Cucumber tapeworm is a parasite that causes chronic disease. If treatment for your pet is not started in a timely manner, the following complications may develop:

Immunity gradually decreases. The cat gets sick more often and recovers more slowly. A simple cut can cause suppuration.
Decreased appetite can lead to exhaustion. This leads to disruption of the functioning of organs and systems of the body.
Toxins accumulate in the blood and organs. The consequences of intoxication are becoming more and more obvious: the allergy does not disappear, the animal becomes lethargic and apathetic. The nervous system suffers.
A helminthic infestation can lead to blockage of the intestinal lumen, which can lead to obstruction and even death for the pet.

Dipylidiasis is an extremely dangerous disease for kittens. As a rule, children suffering from this disease have a hard time tolerating it. If treatment is not started on time, death is possible. If the parasite enters the body of a pregnant baby, a miscarriage is possible.

Signs of helminthic infestation of borage and diagnosis

Homeless animals are more susceptible to infection, but pets are also not immune from the disease. In general, the disease is not classified as severe and requiring immediate treatment. This helminthic infestation, like any other, is most dangerous for kittens.

Most often, the disease is asymptomatic and the pet owner does not suspect that the animal is infected until he detects a moving proglottid containing eggs in the feces or near the anus. Outside the host's body, it does not live long, its shell hardens, turns yellow and, ultimately, ruptures, leaving borage eggs in the environment.

Kittens, as well as animals weakened by pregnancy, another disease or for other reasons, may show the following symptoms of dipylidia:

Salivation;
Increased or, conversely, decreased appetite;
Weight loss;
Attempts to rub your butt on the carpet;
Vomit;
Digestive disorders;
Nervousness.

If an animal vomits, it is possible that the parasite itself will come out with it. The desire to scratch a cat’s anus arises if proglottids leave the body, then the owner observes the characteristic “rolling” of the pet on its butt on the floor.

To identify borage worms in cats, it is necessary to have the animal's feces tested. Perhaps one time will not be enough, due to the fact that proglottids do not come out constantly. A blood test is not usually used to diagnose this helminthiasis.

Prevention measures

To avoid infection or prevent its recurrence, it is important to take preventive measures in a timely manner. Among them:

Regular disinfection of cat accessories (tray, bed, scratching post) and toys. It is necessary to systematically wash the cat's bedding and treat pieces of furniture on which the animal likes to lie with disinfectants. A good way to get rid of parasites is to take your cat's bedding out to the cold.
Maintaining hygiene rules. After close contact with an animal, you should wash your hands and teach children to do this.
Power control. It is not advisable to offer your cat raw meat and fish; it is better to first boil it or pour boiling water over it.

Periodic treatment of cat fur with antiparasitic agents (Bars, Celandine, Rolf). You need to make sure your cat doesn't have fleas. These insects are carriers of the disease. By licking its fur, the cat swallows fleas, which infect their host again and again. In addition, jumping insects are able to “deliver” tapeworm larvae directly to a person. You can also use an anti-flea collar and periodically wash your cat with a special shampoo.
Preventive courses of anthelmintic therapy. The veterinarian will recommend a regimen of medications that should be given to the pet 2 times a year. If the cat is allowed outside from time to time, the course must be repeated every three months.

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Prevention of infection

The eggs themselves do not pose a danger to the animal. An unripe egg, once in the body of a potential host, is simply digested without causing any harm to it. A necessary condition for the development of a mature individual of cucumber tapeworm is the maturation of the egg in the body of an intermediate host - a flea. Therefore, all preventive measures to prevent the disease should be aimed at eliminating fleas and lice-eaters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9I1×6CtlII

Train your cat to wear a collar, or treat fleas with special drops once a month or at other intervals, depending on the type of product you choose. For prevention, regularly treat cat bedding, pillows and houses with them. Anything that can be removed and washed, remove and wash in hot water.

Can you get worms from a cat? The answer is yes!

It would also be useful to treat the apartment. For these purposes, you can choose any tool, for example:

Perol;
Actor;
Solutions of chlorophos or karbofos.

To properly treat a room for fleas, you will need to work hard.

Carry out wet cleaning, remove debris from all corners that may contain flea eggs;
Move all furniture, remove carpets;
Spray the aerosol in all places where insects may hide;
The room is “infused” for several hours, after which it is ventilated;
Carpets are dusted, floors and furniture are vacuumed, and wet cleaning is carried out again.

If fleas remain in the apartment, then with a high degree of probability, infection with borage eggs will occur again.

How does dipylidia infection occur?

Dipylidiasis can affect both domestic and wild animals (wolves, foxes, jackals, etc.). Most often, homeless animals become infected with it.

The question is often asked: can a person become infected with cucumber tapeworm?

Yes, this parasite is also dangerous for humans, as it is transmitted through parasites that live on the fur of pets, with whom we constantly come into contact: we stroke, squeeze, pick up and take into bed.

Pets sit and lie on the same sofas, beds and armchairs as we do, and therefore it is quite natural that an almost invisible flea or whipworm, which has a pork tapeworm, can enter our body through the mouth, as, indeed, and other parasites.

Considering the widespread prevalence of pork tapeworm eggs and fleas as their carriers in the environment, they can reach us through contaminated meat, vegetables, and herbs.

A person cannot become infected directly from a domestic animal infected with pork tapeworm unless there is an intermediate host - a flea or whipworm.

Preventive measures

Since various parasites are carriers and sources of infection with dipilidia, prevention should be aimed at antiparasitic treatment of the pet itself and disinfestation of the home in general. It is important to remember that cucumber tapeworm infection is often fatal for kittens, so regular treatment is recommended to prevent infestations. For disinfestation of housing and household items, you can use special products (ardex, perol, actol), 1.5% dichlorvos solution. The same products can be sprayed on the hair of cats. It is recommended to periodically treat the rug, carrier, tray at high temperatures (for example, scald with boiling water) or take it out into the cold in winter.

One of the reliable means of preventing cucumber tapeworm infection is a flea collar. But if your pet has a large number of parasites, then you should first bathe him using anti-flea shampoo.

A domestic cat may never develop dipylidia, but taking preventive measures will provide additional confidence that the disease will not affect your pet.

Main symptoms of infection

Dipylidiasis can be difficult to detect in cats or dogs. This is explained by the fact that at first the worms actively use the carrier’s nutrients to maintain their vital functions. Metabolites that parasites secrete into the intestines gradually lead to intoxication of the host. It is when the body is exhausted that helminth infection is often discovered.

Symptoms indicating the presence of a parasite in the intestines of cats may include the following:

loss of appetite or increase in it;
dulling of fur;
deterioration of general condition;
the appearance of discharge from the eyes;
disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
development of intestinal obstruction as a result of the accumulation of a large number of helminths in the intestinal lumen;
the appearance of frequent constipation or diarrhea;
sharp pain in the abdomen;
constant weakness and fatigue;
salivation;
drowsiness;
itching in the anus as a result of which cats or dogs “ride” on their butts;
convulsions;
nausea and vomiting;
weight loss;
constant anxiety.

Such signs develop as a result of severe intoxication and weakened immunity. If adult cats and dogs tolerate dipylidia much easier, and the disease is not so dangerous, then tapeworm infection in kittens can be fatal.

Establishing diagnosis

You can detect helminths by examining your pet's litter box.

The cucumber tapeworm is a genus of tapeworms. Adults in a cat's body can reach one and a half meters, but usually their length does not exceed 70 cm. The helminth lives in the small intestine, to the walls of which it is attached using hooks located on the head.

On the body of a sexually mature individual, capsules (proglottids) containing up to two dozen eggs mature. Once ripe, the capsules separate and leave the animal’s body naturally - with feces.

Together with the flea larvae and lice eaters that swallowed them;
As a result of licking eggs from fur;
In the process of getting to know other animals (sniffing, licking);
With contaminated food.

Why are worms dangerous?

Despite the fact that cucumber tapeworm is most often present in the body of cats, for humans the penetration of this helminth into the body can be dangerous due to the development of such negative consequences as a decrease in vital energy and the occurrence of severe exhaustion. It is important to know! In order to protect your pets from the active activity of these parasites, you should be vaccinated in a timely manner. Moreover, we should not forget about the preventive treatment of pets’ fur against parasites.

Against the background of helminthic infestation, a person may develop cholangitis.

anemia;
cholangitis;
liver dysfunction;
decreased immunity;
perforation of the intestinal walls;
pancreatitis;
psychoemotional disorder.

Most often, if a cat becomes infected with worms, then in the future the owner will also become infected.

A ball of worms can clog the intestinal lumen and lead to obstruction of the digestive tract, and this is dangerous for the death of the animal, since it cannot empty itself.

How to remove worms from a kitten

When treating kittens for parasites, you should be very careful; it is easy to cause harm to an organism that is not yet fully strengthened. You must strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions and follow the dosage of the medicine.

For small pets, one of the medications recommended by experts is Dirofen.

Dirofen has proven itself in the treatment of helminthic infestations in kittens

This anthelmintic drug consists of two substances - pyrantel and praziquantel. The first substance causes a kind of paralysis in parasites, and the second destroys their intestines and, ultimately, the helminth itself. Dirofen has a gentle, gentle effect on the kitten’s body.

A kitten's swollen tummy may indicate a helminthic infestation.

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Hello, readers of the site about parasites Noparasites.ru. My name is Alexander Lignum. I am the author of this site. I am 23 years old, I am a 5th year student at the Kemerovo State Medical Institute. Specialization "Parasitologist". Consultation by phone: +7. More about the author>>

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Topic: Parasites are to blame for all troubles!

From: Lyudmila S. ()

To: Administration Noparasites.ru

I have felt very bad for the past few years. Constant fatigue, insomnia, some kind of apathy, laziness, frequent headaches. I also had problems with digestion, and in the morning I had bad breath.

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All this began to accumulate and I realized that I was moving in some wrong direction. I began to lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right, but this did not affect my well-being. The doctors couldn’t really say anything either. Everything seems to be normal, but I feel like my body is not healthy.

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Dipilidiosis is a disease caused by the cucumber tapeworm, a class of tapeworms. Pathology can be transmitted to owners. Most often, dipilidia appears in wild and stray cats, but it is also diagnosed in domestic pets. The disease is not classified as severe and is dangerous for pregnant cats and kittens. The pathology is quickly diagnosed and successfully treated.

Prevention methods

Cucumber tapeworm can be removed from cats only through complex treatment. In addition to anthelmintic medications, medications for skin parasites are used, and a restorative diet is also necessary. During therapeutic procedures, it is necessary to sanitize the habitat using disinfectant compounds.

It is important to choose the right medications that are effective and safe for your cat. The drugs are usually given once a day, before the first meal in the morning. The dosage is selected individually for each pet, taking into account its lifestyle and weight. The most commonly used medications are:

Fenasal - the drug is sold in powder form. It needs to be added once to the animal’s food, and the medicine is calculated taking into account the weight of 0.2 g per 1 kg of the pet’s weight. Costs approximately 2800 rubles.
Medicines that contain praziquantel as an active ingredient (for example, Drontal, Quantum). These medications are prescribed on the basis that 1 mg of the drug is required per 1 kg of animal weight. Price - 220−440 rub.
Bunamidine is calculated at 30-40 mg per 1 kg of cat weight. The medicine is given once a day 3 hours after meals.
Mebendazole is used for 3 days at a dose of 45 mg per 1 kg of animal weight. This drug can be added to your cat's food. Cost - 80 rubles.
Fenagel - the product is made in the form of a paste and is given to the animal in the morning before meals. For 1 kg of cat’s body weight, 0.1 g of the drug is required. The paste should be placed on the animal's tongue under its root. In order for your pet to swallow the product faster, you need to raise your head and scratch your neck from top to bottom. This causes a swallowing reflex. You can release the cat only after it begins to lick itself, which indicates that the medicine has been swallowed.

Antibiotics may be prescribed if it is necessary to destroy microorganisms that have joined as a secondary infection. This should only be determined by a veterinarian.

It is better to avoid a problem than to deal with its consequences later. You should adhere to certain rules for caring for your pet. Basic recommendations:

Disinfection. It is necessary to regularly wash and steam the bedding and beds on which the cat constantly rests. You should also use disinfectants, for example, Perol or Actol. They can be found in veterinary pharmacies. You can use karbofos or chlorophos, which dissolves in water. They are great for disinfecting fabrics.
Cleaning wool. You can use the same means as for disinsection of litter. You should apply them to the cat’s skin, and then bathe the animal with cat shampoo.
Deworming. It is necessary to give the cat anthelmintic drugs once every six months. In this regard, it is best to consult a veterinarian, since many factors play a role here, for example, the age of the animal, its weight, health status, etc.

You should not allow your pet to be infested with fleas. Such drugs as “Frontline”, “Advocate”, “Bars”, “Advantage”, “Otodectin”, “Maksidin 0.4” and “Maksidin 0.15” will help get rid of them.

It will not be superfluous to monitor your own hygiene. You need to take care of the cleanliness of your hands and face, and also teach your children to do this. You should not save on visits to the veterinary clinic, since timely examinations help to identify pathology in the early stages. This will allow you to begin treatment immediately before complications begin.