Intestinal tapeworm of sheep and goats (Moniezia expansa) and of cattle (Moniezia benedeni) are common spring/summer worms. The respective tapeworm species are most prevalent in sheep and dairy calves, and their large, flat segments are often visible in dung.
These worms can be up to a metre long and found in the small intestine (hence their name). When referring to intestinal tapeworms, it’s common to treat the heads and the segments differently. The head is the muscular sucker that attaches to the intestinal wall to feed their ‘segment’. Segments are biologically complete in that they have both male and female organs, enabling self-fertilisation as well as fertilisation between other segments.
Intestinal Tapeworm Life Cycle
Moniezia tapeworms have an indirect life cycle, meaning they have to go through 2 different hosts to complete their journey from egg to adult. Including livestock and a grass mite (oribatid mite) that lives in the soil or on pastures. These grass mites are most active through the summer months, which is why we mostly see tapeworm during these times.
- Segments full of eggs detach from the body of the tapeworm and are passed out in the dung.
- The eggs are eaten by grass mites.
- Sheep ingest the grass mites when grazing.
- When the mites are digested by the sheep, the tapeworm eggs are released and develop into adult tapeworms in the small intestine.
Treatment
Intestinal tapeworms generally do not cause production loss or welfare concerns in livestock, therefore treatment just for tapeworms alone is not recommended. Intestinal tapeworms can be treated or controlled for cosmetic reasons (shows, studs, markets) using drenches that include praziquantel or albendazole. Our own Vetmec Dual is registered to effectively treat all intestinal tapeworm heads AND segments in sheep.
If you have further questions about intestinal tapeworms or other worms, give us a call on 1800 243 683 or send an email to admin@chemvet.com.au.
References
Intestinal Tapeworm in Sheep and Goats | Wormboss