Cucumber tapeworm in cats and dogs: symptoms and methods of treating dipylidia

The cucumber tapeworm is so named because the mature segments of this parasite are shaped like cucumber seeds (this is clearly visible in the photo and video).

The helminths of this species, which cause dipylidiosis, belong to tapeworms and have the scientific name Dipylidiidae Hymenolepidata. The width of the tapeworm is only 2.5-3 mm, but the length can reach up to 1.5 m. The color is grayish-white or with a pinkish tint.

What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article describes in detail methods of controlling parasites. We also recommend that you consult a specialist. Read the article >>>

Life cycle

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.

The structure of the cucumber tapeworm

The body of the parasite consists of only two sections:

1. Head. Otherwise it is called scolex. Here is the proboscis (necessary for feeding the parasite), four suckers (for the tapeworm to cling to the intestinal walls). Hooks are also used for fastening.
2. Torso. It includes cells that are also called proglottids. Segments are necessary for reproduction. They contain both male and female reproductive organs, which suggests self-fertilization. There (in the segments) there are cocoons in which eggs develop, the size of which can reach up to 0.05 mm.

The length of the worm ranges from 20 to 60 cm, and its width does not exceed 3 mm. There are also longer specimens of the cucumber tapeworm. The worm belongs to the category of hermaphrodites, due to the peculiarity of the production of cells of both sexes.

The carriers of the parasite are lice eaters and fleas. A person can become infected by ingesting worm cocoons. After three weeks, the parasite matures and the next phase of tapeworm development begins. During this period of time, the first signs of dipylidia appear.

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.

Other diseases from the group Infectious and parasitic diseases:

Symptoms of dipylidia

In both humans and cats, the parasite causes the development of dipylidia, which is manifested by the following symptoms:

• vomiting and disruption of the digestive tract;
• lack of appetite and, as a result, general exhaustion;
• nervousness and anxiety.

The most interesting thing is that the symptoms of dipilidia in humans are approximately the same, only they are added to:

• pale skin;
• insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sharp decrease in performance;
• itching in the anal area;
• “big belly” from which the peritoneum protrudes.

Cucumber tapeworm causes an individual reaction in humans and animals—an immune response that depends on the level of immunity of that particular organism.

If the immune system is strong enough, the body will be able to cope with some of the symptoms of the disease. On the one hand, this is good, but on the other hand, it makes diagnosis difficult based on characteristic symptoms.

In any case, if a person is suspected of having dipylidiasis, he should consult a parasitologist and/or an infectious disease immunologist, and take the cat for a consultation at a veterinary clinic.

Take a test for the presence of cucumber tapeworm in humans

Possible complications

Prolonged stay of helminths in the intestines of an animal has a detrimental effect on the entire body. There is a high probability of developing complications, since intoxication increases every day, the protective functions of the pet’s immune system decrease, and exhaustion progresses. This leads to malfunctions of all systems. Because of these factors, it is much more difficult for a cat’s body to resist infections. In general, the pet begins to feel much worse.

If treatment is not started on time, then, in addition to the main therapy, veterinarians need to pay attention to inflammation:

1. Gallbladder.
2. Gastric mucosa.
3. Pancreas.
4. Large and small intestines.

The diet prescribed by the veterinarian after treatment of helminthiasis plays a very important role in restoring the pet’s body. It is necessary to give your pet only balanced food that contains a lot of protein, minerals and vitamins. Cat food should be chosen from premium and super premium varieties.

Diagnosis of dipylidia

Before determining how to treat a person or cat, it is necessary to test feces to find out whether it contains these worms, or rather, their eggs, because the types of worms are extremely numerous.

Modern laboratory equipment (powerful microscopes, reagents, etc.) make it possible to accurately determine the presence of certain helminths in the human or animal body.

The Fulleborn method is considered the most effective for identifying tapeworm eggs: feces are treated with sodium chloride solution and then centrifuged. Tapeworm eggs are very light, so they appear on the surface and are easily recognized.

Causes of dirofilariasis

Literally from the Latin dirofilaria “diro, filium” is translated as “evil thread”. As mentioned earlier, the larval stage of the worm, microfilaria, can live in the human body. Most often, people are infected by the nematodes Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis, which live in the bodies of pets - dogs and cats. It is extremely rare that heartworm can be transmitted to humans from a wild animal - these nematodes parasitize all representatives of the canine and feline families, primates, bears, tigers, and otters. That is why a large proportion of people sick with dirofilariasis occur among hunters.

How to treat dipylidia

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 remedy for cucumber tapeworm is the anthelmintic drugs fenasal, quaniquantel, drontal, azinox and their analogues.

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.

Treatment with folk remedies for humans and domestic animals is carried out using an infusion of tansy, which worms cannot tolerate at all, and an enema with garlic.

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.

Treatment

Treatment of dipilidia in cats is systemic, since the presence of parasites in the body negatively affects the internal organs. Anthelmintic drugs alone are not enough. It is necessary to simultaneously treat your pet against other parasites (ticks, fleas). A prerequisite for treatment is maintaining hygiene of the pet and the premises. A special diet is prescribed to help the body recover after infection.

Sarcoptic mange

Fleas on cats

Notoedrosis

First aid

First aid for a pet is to maintain hygiene. If your cat has access to the outdoors, you should check your cat's skin for ticks after every walk. Insects may not be noticed in the fur. Scratching will help with this.

It is important to treat your pet for fleas in a timely manner, as they become carriers of infection.

The cat must also be treated during treatment. Drugs and solutions should only be selected by a veterinarian

At the same time, it is important to provide your pet with a balanced diet, which should include the necessary microelements and vitamins.

Basic treatment

The main treatment for dipylidia is medication. Preparations containing praziquantel (Quantum, Drontal, Kanikquantel +) and niclozamenide (Phenagel, Phenasal powder) are used. Less commonly used for treatment are medications containing mebendazole. Preparations containing arecoline are not used for cats.

Treatment regimen

Also prescribed for the treatment of dipylidia are “Drontsit”, “Nicorzamide”, “Azinox +”, “Fenbendazole”, “Aminoakrikhin”, “Bithionol”. To destroy pathogenic microflora, antibiotics and drugs are prescribed that eliminate the consequences of helminth damage - restoring the mucous membranes.

If the cat’s body is severely depleted during the illness or dehydration appears, subcutaneous droppers are placed. Immunomodulators are prescribed to restore immunity. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe probiotics, enzymatic agents, antispasmodics and iron supplements. A special diet is prescribed only in the presence of concomitant diseases. If you have dipilidia, you need to include vegetables, cereals (mainly buckwheat), fruits and meat (beef or veal) in your diet.

Dipylidiasis in kittens is more difficult to treat than in adult pets. The severe stage of helminthiasis develops faster in small children and leads to death. The cause is severe intoxication of the body, which disrupts its functioning. The kitten's still fragile organs cannot cope with such a load. Due to poisoning, they develop pancreatitis, gastritis, and enteritis. Then treatment is aimed at eliminating concomitant diseases. However, a kitten that develops dipylidia usually dies.

Prevention

Prevention of infection involves the following measures:

• even if the cat/dog is healthy, for preventive purposes they need to be given anthelmintic drugs once every six months;
• 7-10 days before the planned mating, treat both the cat and its partner for helminths;
• use an anti-flea collar;
• prevent contact of pets with stray cats and dogs;
• regularly carry out disinfestation of the apartment/house using special preparations;
• Regularly process and sterilize the bedding, feeder and patches, and even better, replace them with new ones twice a year;
• regularly scald the cage with boiling water, and in winter, at low temperatures, take it out into the cold.

Prevention of infection in a person largely depends on how accurately he follows the above recommendations so that his pet does not infect him with helminths.

Well, of course, he must observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash his hands more often and carefully monitor the health of his pet.

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.

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Read further:

Pork tapeworm: symptoms, prevention, and treatment methods for pork tapeworm

Dipylidiasis in humans, cats, dogs and rodents: diagnosis and treatment

Advocate against worms and fleas for cats and dogs: instructions for use, price, reviews

What to do to avoid becoming infected with bovine tapeworm: methods and methods of prevention

Is it possible to give deworming tablets to a pregnant cat, what dosages?

Duphalac: instructions for use for adults, children under one year old, pregnant women, cats and dogs

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:

1. Indigestion.
2. Pain in the navel area.
3. Itching in the anus.
4. Poor appetite.
5. Dizziness, sleep disturbance, anxiety.
6. 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.