Any of various long segmented parasitic flatworms of the class Cestoda that lack a digestive system and have hooks or suckers for attaching to the intestines of vertebrates, including humans.
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Any of various cestode flatworms that live in the adult stage as parasites in the intestines of humans and other vertebrates and in the larval stage usually in various intermediate hosts.
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Any of various long segmented parasitic flatworms of the class Cestoda that lack a digestive system and have hooks or suckers for attaching to the intestines of vertebrates, including humans.
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(countable) Any parasiticalworm of the class Cestoda, which infest the intestines of animals, including humans, often infecting different host species during their life cycle.
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(countable) A broad fish tapeworm, Diphyllobothrium latum.
In many instances the existence of a tapeworm may not cause any inconvenience to its host, and its presence may be only made.
For twelve hours previously to its administration no food should be given, in order that the intestinal tract should be empty so as to expose the tapeworm to the full action of the drug.
Whether this view is soundly based is discussed below; the fact remains, however, that a tapeworm is, with few and rare exceptions, not directly comparable at all points with a liver-fluke or indeed with any other organism.
Unlike the tapeworm no intermediate host is required for the development of this worm.