Question

Taenia saginata differ from Taenia sodium in __________
A. Absence of scolex hook
B. Absence of scolex hook and uterine branching
C. Absence of scolex hook and presence of both male and female reproductive organ
D. Presence of scolex hook

Answer 1

Hint: Taenia saginata is a zoo tonic tapeworm which comes under the order Cyclophyllidea and the genus Taenia. It is commonly known as beef tapeworm. Taenia solium is found all around the world and mostly in a country where pork is the main source of food. It comes under the order Cyclophyllidea and family Taeniidae. It is also known as the pork tapeworm.

Complete answer:
-Taenia saginata: The Taenia saginata is an intestinal parasite in humans which causes taeniasis and cysticercosis in cattle. The cattle are the intermediate hosts, where the larval development takes place while the humans are definitive hosts which bear the adult worms. It is the largest species of the genus Taenia. It is mostly larger, longer and consists of more proglottids, more testes with higher branching of the uterus. It does not contain any scolex hook and has both male and female reproductive organs.
Taenia solium is a tapeworm which has humans as its definitive host and sometimes pork is the intermediate or secondary host. Taeniasis is an infection in the intestines which is caused by the adult Taenia solium. It generally has mild symptoms which include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea and constipation. The symptoms will appear when the tapeworm has fully grown in the intestine. The adult worm has a flat, ribbon-like body which is white and it is about 2 to 3 metres in length. The scolex is a tiny attachment which contains suckers and a rostellum as organs of attachment which attach to the wall of the small intestine. The main body consists of a chain of segments known as proglottids. It also consists of both male and female reproductive organs.
Hence, the correct answer is ‘A. Absence of scolex hook’.

Note: Humans can become infected with Taenia saginata by eating raw or undercooked beef. Taenia saginata is most commonly found in Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, South Asia.