The scolex of the intestinal cestodes is the attachment organ to the wall of the intestine. Often this is not available for examination except after evacuation of the worm following drug therapy.
Species
Scolex
Rostellum
Hooklets
Suckers
Diphyllobothrium latum
spatulate
none
none
2 longitudinal grooves
Taenia saginata
quadrate
none
none
4 suckers
Taenia solium
quadrate
present
present
4 suckers
Hymenolepsis nana
knoblike
present
present
4 suckers
Hymenolepsis diminuta
knoblike
present
none
4 suckers
Dipylidium caninum
small and globular
conical and armed
4-7 rows
4 suckers
where:
• spatulate = flat with blunt end; looks like a chemistry spatula
• quadrate = squarish, 4-sided
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