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Cestodes: Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf tapeworm Life cycle)
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Cestodes: Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf tapeworm Life cycle)

Hymenolepis nana: Dwarf worm
  • Small worm with a short life span.
  • Infection is common, especially among children.
Life Cycle:
  • The life cycle of this cestode does not always involve an intermediate host:
Humans can become infected via ingestion of arthropod intermediate hosts or they can directly ingest eggs.
  • Adults develop in humans, and eggs are passed in feces.
  • Autoinfection is also possible, particularly in children, and can lead to significant, long-term infection.
Be aware of the H. nana variant fraterna:
  • Infects rodents via arthropod intermediate hosts.
  • Humans ingest eggs in contaminated water/food.
  • Eggs release onchospheres (hexacanth larvae).
  • Oncospheres invade the intestinal villi and become cistercoid larvae.
  • The villi rupture and cysticercoids are released into intestinal lumen.
  • Cysticercoids evaginate their scoleces and attach to intestinal mucosa; then develop into adult forms.
  • Adults produce gravid proglottids, and eggs are passed in feces.

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