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Perspectives on intestinal tapeworm infections: An evaluation of direct and indirect life-cycles with a special emphasis on species of Hymenolepis
Numerous experimental studies have been conducted on the rodent tapeworm, Hymenolepis microstoma. In contrast, less is known about the life-cycle and immunobiology of the zoonotic dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepis nana. However, H. nana appears to be unique in that; (i) it can complete its entire life-cyc...
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Published in: | Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases 2021-01, Vol.1, p.100023, Article 100023 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Numerous experimental studies have been conducted on the rodent tapeworm, Hymenolepis microstoma. In contrast, less is known about the life-cycle and immunobiology of the zoonotic dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepis nana. However, H. nana appears to be unique in that; (i) it can complete its entire life-cycle within a single mammalian host, and (ii) cysticercoids that develop in beetle intermediate hosts are tailed, while those that develop in the intestinal tissue of mammals are tailless. This is in contrast to all other Hymenolepis spp., which only appear to develop tailed cysticercoids in beetles or experimentally infected immunodeficient rodents. Even though H. microstoma and H. nana are phylogenetically much closer to each other than to Hymenolepis diminuta, when mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were inoculated with H. microstoma eggs, hatched oncospheres invaded the intestinal tissue and developed into infective tailed cysticercoids in approximately 11 days. Therefore, H. nana appears to be truly unique in its ability to develop tailed cysticercoids in beetles and tailless cysticercoids in mammals. These unique evolutionary characteristics are discussed in relation to other cyclophyllidean cestodes, including Taenia solium and Echinococcus spp.
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•Hymenolepis nana is unique in that it can complete its entire life-cycle within a single mammalian host.•The ability to develop tailless cysticercoids in mammals may be an evolutionary adaption for H. nana.•Adult cestode lifespan may be a good indicator as to whether or not a particular species can have a direct life-cycle. |
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ISSN: | 2667-114X 2667-114X |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100023 |