View Patient Education
Dipylidium caninum is a tapeworm that can cause intestinal infection in humans, which is typically asymptomatic.
D. caninum, the double-pored tapeworm, may be present in dogs and cats. Fleas are the intermediate host. Ingestion of an infected flea, usually by a young child, causes an asymptomatic, self-limited infection, but proglottids (tapeworm segments) may be seen in stool (see Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Dipylidium caninum).
Treatment
Test your KnowledgeTake a Quiz!