Question

Beef-tapeworm is the common name of
(a) Echinococcus granulosus
(b) Taenia saginata
(c) Taenia solium
(d) Luidia australiae

Answer 1

Hint: Beef tapeworm is a member of Platyhelminthes i.e. flatworms and is responsible for causing infection in cattle (beef) and humans. Another similar parasite is the pork tapeworm which enters the body when contaminated pork is ingested by humans.

Complete Answer:
The common name of beef-tapeworm is Taenia saginata. They live in 2 hosts during their life cycle. Cattle are the intermediate host through which they enter their primary host i.e humans. They enter the body of humans when raw or undercooked beef is eaten which then causes intestinal infection.

The symptoms of the disease caused by beef-tapeworm include stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. A person is said to be completely cured when no eggs of this tapeworm are identified in the stool sample.

Additional information: Let us look at the other parasites mentioned in the options.
Echinococcus granulosus: It is also known as dog tapeworm as it lives in the bodies of dogs as well as humans. The disease caused by dog tapeworm is known as cystic echinococcosis or hydatid disease.
Taenia solium: It is also known as pork tapeworm and the ova of this species is almost indistinguishable from the ova of beef tapeworm. It is also an intestinal infection.
Luidia australiae: Its common name is the southern sand star and it is a species of starfish found in the Pacific ocean.
So, the correct option is ‘Taenia saginata’.

Note:
- The members of Platyhelminthes are known as flatworms because they have dorsoventrally flattened bodies.
- The parasitic forms of this phylum have hooks and suckers by which they latch on to the intestine wall of their hosts.
- Few members such as Planaria have high regeneration capacity i.e. a small piece can develop into a fully grown adult.