[Womble]

I noticed a couple of tapeworm segments on our cat's bum when he tried to wave it in my face earlier  .


My understanding is that tapeworm in cats require a flea as an intermediate host:







However, I've not seen any evidence of fleas on said cat, nor any 'flea dirt' on his bed.

Does anybody know, does the presence of tapeworm automatically also mean I should treat for fleas, or could there be another explanation?

[doganjo]

A cat can get tapeworm from any source - even just licking grass that another cat has passed by

[arobwk]

Not withstanding doganjo's advice and your failure to find evidence of fleas Womble, I know what I'd do in your situation: while I try to avoid medicating my pets unnecessarily, I would administer systemic treatments for both worms and fleas.
However, if it was me, I would stagger the treatments - that might not be 'medically' necessary, but it's what I do anyway.

[Womble]

A cat can get tapeworm from any source - even just licking grass that another cat has passed by

So how does that work given the lifecycle above?  Is there an alternate one which doesn't involve an intermediate host?

[SallyintNorth]

A cat can get tapeworm from any source - even just licking grass that another cat has passed by

So how does that work given the lifecycle above?  Is there an alternate one which doesn't involve an intermediate host?

Not as far as I know.  That’s what tapeworms do.  Primary host, intermediate host. 

Roundworm eggs need no intermediate host - although they can be transported by other animals - but tapeworms need the other host in the lifecycle, and for the primary host to then ingest the intermediate host (or at least, their flesh which contains the cysts which contain the larvae.)

[Womble]

Thanks Sally.

This one reminds me a bit of my Dad telling me never to drink from mountain streams when hiking, in case I contracted liver fluke. I realise now that you'd have to be really going some to ingest a mud snail!!


The thing I find fascinating is how did these parasites evolve in the first place? For example, take the Guinea Worm. You get them by drinking water which contains an infected cyclops. Once in your stomach, the cyclops dies and releases the larvae, which burrow into your intestinal wall and then migrate into body tissue to mature and mate (yes, really!). The females then migrate to the surface of the skin, causing a blister full of larvae which bursts in contact with cool water, releasing millions of larvae..... which get eaten by a cyclops.


Like seriously? How on earth did that come about?  Evolution seems to involve too many weird and wonderful steps, whilst creation involves a pretty seriously messed up God, don't you think?   


Answers on a postcard please, to "Womble's parasitology and religious philosophy hour, C/O TAS".

[Anke]

Thanks Sally.

This one reminds me a bit of my Dad telling me never to drink from mountain streams when hiking, in case I contracted liver fluke. I realise now that you'd have to be really going some to ingest a mud snail!!


The thing I find fascinating is how did these parasites evolve in the first place? For example, take the Guinea Worm. You get them by drinking water which contains an infected cyclops. Once in your stomach, the cyclops dies and releases the larvae, which burrow into your intestinal wall and then migrate into body tissue to mature and mate (yes, really!). The females then migrate to the surface of the skin, causing a blister full of larvae which bursts in contact with cool water, releasing millions of larvae..... which get eaten by a cyclops.


Like seriously? How on earth did that come about?  Evolution seems to involve too many weird and wonderful steps, whilst creation involves a pretty seriously messed up God, don't you think?   


Answers on a postcard please, to "Womble's parasitology and religious philosophy hour, C/O TAS".

Great.... I am just about to have me tea.....

[Womble]

I do know of a worse one Anke, but I decided not to post it!!

[Anke]

I do know of a worse one Anke, but I decided not to post it!!

Thanks!
As seasoned smallholders the dinner conversation round here does usually steer towards the animals and what's wrong with them, but we stop at worms...
Hope you get your cat sorted. I would also do an "all-round" treatment btw.