Moniezia
Encyclopedia
Moniezia a genus
of tapeworms that are parasitic in mammals, including sheep, goat
and cattle
. It comprises four known species such as M. expansa
, M. benedeni, M. autumnalis and M. baeri. M. expansa
is the most well known species within the genus because of its high prevalence. Members of the genus are among the largest cestodes
reaching up to 10 m in length. They inhabit the small intestine
of mammalian
host. Their life cycle is indirect requiring intermediate host, which are oribatid mites
. They are characterized by the presence of interproglottid glands.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of tapeworms that are parasitic in mammals, including sheep, goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. It comprises four known species such as M. expansa
Moniezia expansa
Moniezia expansa is commonly known as sheep tapeworm or double-pored ruminant tapeworm. It is a large tapeworm inhabiting the small intestines of ruminants such as sheep, goats and cattle. It has been reported from Peru that pigs are also infected...
, M. benedeni, M. autumnalis and M. baeri. M. expansa
Moniezia expansa
Moniezia expansa is commonly known as sheep tapeworm or double-pored ruminant tapeworm. It is a large tapeworm inhabiting the small intestines of ruminants such as sheep, goats and cattle. It has been reported from Peru that pigs are also infected...
is the most well known species within the genus because of its high prevalence. Members of the genus are among the largest cestodes
Cestoda
This article describes the flatworm. For the medical condition, see Tapeworm infection.Cestoda is the name given to a class of parasitic flatworms, commonly called tapeworms, of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Its members live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults, and often in the bodies...
reaching up to 10 m in length. They inhabit the small intestine
Small intestine
The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to...
of mammalian
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
host. Their life cycle is indirect requiring intermediate host, which are oribatid mites
Oribatida
Oribatida , also known as moss mites or beetle mites, are an order of mites, in the "chewing Acariformes" clade Sarcoptiformes. They range in size from ....
. They are characterized by the presence of interproglottid glands.