Tapeworm

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Head of a pork tapeworm. Left image is magnified 30 times, right one is magnified about 55 times
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Head of a pork tapeworm. Left image is magnified 30 times, right one is magnified about 55 times

Tapeworms (often called Cestoda) are parasitic flatworms. A tapeworm has four suckers and two rings of hooks on its head. It is found inside the intestine of vertebrates (also humans). The infected vertebrate (host) will lose weight and become weaker. Tapeworms are segmented, with each segment capable of producing eggs. Eggs are laid by one or more segments detaching and passing out through the stool. Little segments of its body fall off. They go out of the host body and when they get into another host that segment becomes a tape worm.

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