Taenia crassiceps

rdf:langString Taenia crassiceps

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rdf:langString Taenia

rdf:langString Taenia crassiceps larvae

rdf:langString crassiceps

rdf:langString Taenia crassiceps is a tapeworm in the family Taeniidae. It is a parasitic organism whose adult form infects the intestine of carnivores, like canids. It is related to Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, and to Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm. It is commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere, especially throughout Canada and the northern United States. Natural intermediate hosts of this organism are usually small rodents and moles. The larval stages of T. crassiceps develop subcutaneously or in their body cavities as cysticerci which are cyst-like structures. Taenia crassiceps begins its life in the intestines of wild canines, such as the wolf. Inside the wolf, the tapeworm reproduces. Its eggs are passed in the wolf's feces and are eaten by a rat. When the rat is eaten by another wolf, the parasite's life cycle repeats. Taenia crassiceps rarely infect humans, but if they do, they often cause ocular larva migrans that can progress to blindness. An adult human's immune system typically removes the parasite before permanent damage is done, however, juveniles are typically less defended.