Dipylidiasis 

  • Author: Venkat R Minnaganti, MD; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 19, 2011
 

Background

Dipylidiasis is a common tapeworm infection of dogs and cats caused by Dipylidium caninum. Linnaeus first described dipylidiasis in humans in 1758.

Dipylidiasis has a worldwide distribution. Humans become infected by accidental ingestion of dog or cat fleas that contain D caninum cysticercoids (larva). The risk of infection to humans is low.

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Pathophysiology

Dipylidiasis in humans occurs through accidental ingestion of the dog or cat flea or the dog louse infected with cysticercoids (the larval form of D caninum). These fleas and lice are the intermediate host for D caninum.

Cysticercoids develop into adult worms in the small intestine of the host in about 20 days. The adult worm may attain a length of 10-70 cm and is 2-3 mm in diameter. The worms have a lifespan of less than 1 year.

Pathological changes due to dipylidiasis have not been described.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

A few cases of dipylidiasis have been reported in the United States, but the exact incidence is not known.

International

Dipylidiasis is distributed worldwide, and human infection has been reported in Africa, Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Europe, Guatemala, India, Japan, and the Philippines.

Race

Dipylidiasis does not appear to have a racial predilection.

Sex

Males and females are equally susceptible to dipylidiasis.

Age

Dipylidiasis is most common in infants and in children younger than 8 years. Dipylidiasis has been reported in a 5-week-old infant.[1]

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Venkat R Minnaganti, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Winthrop University Hospital; Clinical Instructor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook

Venkat R Minnaganti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: All India Ophthalmological Society, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Director of Infectious Disease Fellowship, Harper Hospital, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Thomas M Kerkering, MD  Chief of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Thomas M Kerkering, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Society of Virginia, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Samkari A, Kiska DL, Riddell SW, et al. Dipylidium caninum mimicking recurrent enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infection. Clin Pediatr (Phila). May 2008;47(4):397-9. [Medline].

  3. Tsumura N, Koga H, Hidaka H, et al. [Dipylidium caninum infection in an infant]. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. Jul 2007;81(4):456-8. [Medline].

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  19. Okaeme AN. Canine and human gastrointestinal helminthiasis of the Kainji Lake area, Nigeria. Int J Zoonoses. Sep 1985;12(3):241-6. [Medline].

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Adult tapeworm of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Proglottid of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dipylidium caninum proglottid under a dissecting microscope cleared with lactophenol. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Proglottid of Dipylidium caninum stained with carmine. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Egg packets of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Egg packets of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Egg of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Life cycle of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dipylidium caninum egg packet that contains 8 visible eggs, in a wet mount. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
 
 
 
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