tapeworm

tapeworm, name for the parasitic flatworms forming the class Cestoda. All tapeworms spend the adult phase of their lives as parasites in the gut of a vertebrate animal (called the primary host). Most tapeworms spend part of their life cycle in the tissues of one or more other animals (called intermediate hosts), which may be vertebrates or arthropods.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Classification
• Consequences of Infestation
• Humans as Tapeworm Hosts
• Reproduction
• Anatomy and Function

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