Question

What is true about Taenia saginata?
A) Life cycle has pig as intermediate host.
B) There are two large suckers on scolex
C) Rostellar hooks are absent
D) Rostellum has double circle of hooks

Answer 1

Hint:Taenia saginata is a flatworm. It belongs to phylum platyhelminthes. It undergoes parasitic mode of nutrition. It is an intestinal parasite in humans.

Complete answer:
To answer the question we must know the life cycle of Taenia saginata.
It is commonly known as beef tapeworm. It causes taeniasis in cattle. Cattles are the intermediate host where larvae development takes place. The humans are the definitive host where the adults are formed.
The infective larvae stage is called the cysticerci. They are hermaphrodite and can reproduce by self fertilisation. From the humans, the embryonated eggs or the oncosphere are released through faces which are transmitted to cattle. The oncospheres develop into cysticerci inside the cattle’s muscle, liver and lungs. (Statement (A) is incorrect)
The body of this worm consists of scolex, neck and strobila. The scolex has four suckers (Statement (B) is incorrect) but lacks hooks.
The identifying feature of this species is it lacks hooks and rostellum which is prominent in other species. (Statement (C) is correct, (D) is incorrect)

Thus the correct answer is option C.

Note: These worms are found globally and are significant where cattle are raised and beef is consumed. Humans are infected due to eating raw or undercooked beef. It can cause taeniasis inside the human intestine but cannot cause cysticercosis which is harmless and asymptomatic.