Multiceps

Gnaphalium affine L., G. multiceps Wall., G. confusum DC, G. luteo-album L. var. multiceps Hook, G. arenarium Thunb., G. ramigerum DC, G. javanum DC, G. uliginosum L., G. tranzschelii Kirpicznikov Manihot esculenta Crantz. 

Achillea alpina, A. millefolium, Aleurites moluceanu, Alpinia katsumadai, A. globosum, A. kumatake, Anthriscus aemula, A. sylvestris, Blumea lacera, Daucus camta, Eriobotrya japonica, Calendula officinalis, Gnaphalium affine, G. arenarium, G. confusum, G. javanum, G. luteo-album, G. multiceps,... 

G. multiceps, G. ramigerum, G. tranzschelii, G. uliginosum, Triticum vulgare, Urtica angustifolia,... 

Oncospheres of many cestode species penetrate and develop into metacestodes within cysts (cysticerci, hydatid, multilocular) in the soft tissues of their rodent, ruminant or human hosts. Thus, species such as Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, Eaenia multiceps, T. ovis, E. saginata and E solium are of economic and medical importance. Such soft tissue invasion elicits a host immune response to resist the helminths. However, although some cysts may be destroyed as evidenced by involution or calcification, the host response is often too little - too late to eliminate the invaders. The susceptibility of the host to invasion is often due to successful evasive strategies... 

Recent studies by transmission (TEM) and/or scanning (SEM) electron microscopy on the adults of species (other than Hymenolepis) are those on Multiceps endothoracicus (342, 343), Proteocephalus ambloplitis (139, 369), Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (267), Taenia crassiceps (601, 410), T. taeniaeformis (519), Anomotaenia constricta (244), Paricterotaeniaporosa (244), Proteocephalus tidswelli... 

Although, in many species, the adult scolex does little damage to the mucosa, some species (e.g. D. latum, H. microstoma, Multiceps sp.) can produce marked pathogenetic effects. Consideration of these is beyond the scope of this book. The literature in this field has been reviewed by Arme et al. (25). 

Most work has centred on cyclophyllidean species whose larvae develop in mammals. Few studies have been made on the other cestode orders, such as the Pseudophyllidea whose larvae develop in lower vertebrates, especially fish, amphibia and reptilia. Apart from the H. nana/rodent system, discussed earlier, the most studied species have been those which are either readily maintained in laboratory animals or are of medical, veterinary or economic importance, i.e. Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, Mesocestoides corti, Taenia crassiceps, T. hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. ovis, T. saginata and T. solium. The account given here has been restricted largely to these species. 

The development of successful vaccines against the highly pathogenic larvae of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis (in man and domestic animals), T. solium (in man and pigs) and those of economic importance, such as T. saginata (in cattle) and T. ovis and T. multiceps (both in sheep) would clearly revolutionise the control of these important parasites, and much effort has been put into this research area (reviewed 137, 447, 687, 691, 784, 961). 

Hulinska, D. Lavrov, V. I. (1981). Morphology and cytochemistry of the adult tapeworm Multiceps endothoracicus with emphasis on the scolex. Folia Parasitologica, 28 227-34. 

Willis, J. M. Herbert, I. V. (1984). Some factors affecting the eggs of Taenia multiceps their transmission onto pasture and their viability. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 78 236-42. 

Bithionol causes complete clearance of intestinal tapeworms, T. hydatigena, T. ovis, M. multiceps and D. caninum from dogs at a dose of 150-200 mg/kg. It also exhibits 100% efficacy against Moniezia and Anoplocephala spp. in sheep at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Bithionol eliminates more than 90% of the adult Fasciola spp. from sheep and cattle at the oral doses of 75 and 35 mg/kg, respectively. The drug is well tolerated producing no side effects except occasional diarrhea and softening of the stool [12,35,76]. 

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