The Development Cycle Of A Bull Tapeworm: Stages And Photos

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The Development Cycle Of A Bull Tapeworm: Stages And Photos
The Development Cycle Of A Bull Tapeworm: Stages And Photos

Video: The Development Cycle Of A Bull Tapeworm: Stages And Photos

Video: The Development Cycle Of A Bull Tapeworm: Stages And Photos
Video: Gestation: A Calf's Journey 2024, March
Anonim

The development cycle of a bullish tapeworm is a rather long and interesting process. Before entering the human body, it goes through several stages. The parasite cannot live in the animal, therefore it is used as an intermediate link.

Content

  • 1 In the body of an animal
  • 2 In the human body
  • 3 Growth of parasites
  • 4 Reproduction
  • 5 Behavior in the human body

    5.1 Danger to humans

  • 6 Conclusion

Being in an open environment, the parasite's oncospheres are protected by a special shell. Eggs adapt to any conditions and calmly preserve life in light frosts. So, eggs can be recognized even under a massive layer of snow.

In the body of an animal

The intermediate hosts for the parasite are cattle - wild or domestic. Animals feed on hay, which is infected with helminths, and as a result, become carriers of a serious disease.

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The microscopic oncosphere settles in the intestine, then breaks through it into the bloodstream and spreads to other organs. Microscopic eggs are immersed in connective tissues and muscles. After six months, the larvae become bubble Finns. Inside them, a thin neck with a head is formed.

If the animal is killed for meat during this period, everyone who eats it has a chance of becoming infected. In this case, the tapeworm life will continue and there will come a new period of his life and.

In the human body

People can become infected if they eat insufficiently cooked or fried meat. Light heat treatment does not kill parasites. After entering the digestive tract, the tapeworm begins to actively develop.

Under the right conditions, the Finn is transformed. The chain pushes the head out and is attached to the wall with hooks. Then the parasite forms into a full-fledged worm.

The developmental stages in the human intestine take about 3 months. The tapeworm segments are already sexually mature and can go out with human feces. Thus, the life cycle of a bull tapeworm ends, and after that everything repeats.

A huge worm can parasitize in humans for 25 years. At the same time, the infected person will often get sick and not even guess about the reason for such poor health

Parasite growth

This developmental stage is very fast. After the worm enters the small intestine, it sticks to the walls. For a day, the helminth can increase the body by 10 cm.

The growth of the parasite and the increase in the segments occurs during the entire period of its existence. Each new segment is formed in the neck area. At the very beginning, they are small in size, but towards the rear end they increase significantly.

Reproduction

When proglottids reach puberty, they only have one sex, that is, they are hermaphrodites. Closer segments are fertilized with their help. However, in some cases, self-fertilization of the proglottid inside it is observed. The development of the oncosphere into an adult is a rare phenomenon, since parasites turn into an adult only after they enter the human intestine.

The parasite can reproduce in one of two ways:

  • sexual;
  • asexual.

Asexual budding is characteristic of scolexes, while proglottids are another mode of reproduction. Usually the process of maturation of immature proglottids takes from 2.5 to 3 months. In turn, an adult proglottid produces thousands of eggs every day. In general, the worm produces several million eggs per day.

Reasons for interrupting the life cycle of a bull tapeworm:

  1. The number of eggs absorbed is not enough for the cow to become infected.
  2. Human feces have practically no contact with food and drink for cattle.
  3. The larvae of the parasite do not survive as a result of good heat treatment of meat products.
  4. Eggs can be destroyed by freezing at very low meat temperatures. This will take a long time.

If they enter industrial waters, helminth eggs can survive for only 2 weeks, after which they die.

Behavior in the human body

The development pattern of the bull tapeworm is rather primitive. The entire period of development takes place in the human body. From the beginning of life until the very death, the helminth is in a person. During this time, he feeds on food that goes to the intestines. Only a few proglottids break away from the strobilus and can leave the host along with the feces.

As a rule, one host has only one worm. This can be explained by the fact that humans are physically unable to support older individuals. In turn, the tapeworm adapted well to this phenomenon, changing some properties.

The parasite is devoid of the digestive system. Food is provided by proglottids. They absorb nutrients from their surfaces. On the skin of the parasite there are many invisible villi, which can enhance food absorption.

Danger to humans

Any organism that enters a person is a parasite for him. It feeds on nutrients from the digestive tract, thereby depriving a person of vital vitamins and minerals.

Chronic invasion is characterized by pronounced symptoms that cause unpleasant consequences. In addition, tapeworm causes severe harm to humans, causing anemia

Conclusion

Bovine tapeworm is dangerous to the human body. At the first suspicion of its presence in the body, you should consult a specialist. Do not hesitate to visit a doctor. Bovine tapeworm grows very quickly, so the earlier you start treatment, the more likely it will be cured.

But the main thing is to adhere to precautions when cooking beef. A good degree of roasting or stewing of meat can destroy worms and protect a person from infection.

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