helminths(cacing)

Helminths:

• Derived from Greek meaning worm.
• Helminths are higher, multicellular forms of parasite with specialized organs.(Baumann, 2007)
• Can be found throughout natural world.

Cestodes - Tapeworms

• Cestodes are members of Phylum Platyhelminthes.
• Commonly called tape worms.
• Cestodes are flat, segmented, intestinal parasites that completely lack digestive systems.
• Always reside in the gut of definitive host (human).
• Adult worms obtain nourishment from semi digested food of the host.
• Some tapeworms produce proglottids large enough to be obviously visible in stools.
• Length of tapeworms = 3 to 10 meter.