Editing Dipylidium caninum (section)

==Pet infections==
Tapeworm infection usually does not cause pathology in the dog or cat, and most pets show no adverse reaction to infection other than increased appetite. The bulk of infections are asymptomatic and the infections that do result in symptoms are generally mildly so. Pets behavior may reflect the presence of anal discomfort and itching, or pruritus. This could result in the ‘butt-scooching” across the floor, grass or carpeting. It may be accompanied by slight gastrointestinal disturbances, as this is the region where the worms inhabit. Though not a pathology of the diplydiasis, the most unnerving sign of the infection is the presence of proglottids in the animals, or child’s, feces.  These proglottids can also be found near the perianal region, in the feces, and in diapers (children). The motile proglottids can actively crawl out of the anus of the infected animal/person and migrate small distances, thus potentially covering this array of neighboring surfaces.  It is from these locations that the larval stage of the flea will come along and ingest them. Then the metacestode stage, a cysticercoid, develops in the coelomic cavity (abdominal cavity; [[Portal:Main|main]] body cavity) of the flea larvae and remains there as the flea matures into an adult. These freshly passed proglottids are motile, allowing them to also be found on the floor and furniture, from a migration out of a pets anus and could be compared to resembling fly larvae, or maggots.<ref name=":0" />

The other tapeworm infecting cats is ''[[Taenia taeniaeformis]]'', though this form is much less commonly encountered than ''D. caninum''.

A recent (2018) study using genetical analysis and experimental infections and life-cycles showed that two different distinct genotypes of ''D. caninum'' occur respectively in dogs and in cats, and suggested that two different species might be involved.<ref name="LabuschagneBeugnet2018">{{cite journal|last1=Labuschagne|first1=Michel|last2=Beugnet|first2=Frédéric|last3=Rehbein|first3=Steffen|last4=Guillot|first4=Jacques|last5=Fourie|first5=Josephus|last6=Crafford|first6=Dionne|title=Analysis of ''Dipylidium caninum'' tapeworms from dogs and cats, or their respective fleas. Part 1. Molecular characterization of ''Dipylidium caninum'': genetic analysis supporting two distinct species adapted to dogs and cats|journal=Parasite|volume=25|year=2018|pages=30|doi=10.1051/parasite/2018028|pmid=29806592|pmc=6013089|url=}} {{open access}}</ref><ref name="BeugnetLabuschagne2018">{{cite journal|last1=Beugnet|first1=Frédéric|last2=Labuschagne|first2=Michel|last3=Vos|first3=Christa de|last4=Crafford|first4=Dionne|last5=Fourie|first5=Josephus|title=Analysis of ''Dipylidium caninum'' tapeworms from dogs and cats, or their respective fleas. Part 2. Distinct canine and feline host association with two different ''Dipylidium caninum'' genotypes|journal=Parasite|volume=25|year=2018|pages=31|doi=10.1051/parasite/2018029|pmid=29806593|pmc=6013090|url=}} {{open access}}</ref>