Dipylidium caninum

Dipylidium caninum belongs to class Cestoda, order Cyclophyllidea. It is a common dog and cat tapeworm and also infects human beings, especially toddlers and children, through the ingestion of an infected flea. Natural infection occurs in members of the dog and cat families, occasionally in wild animals like fox, jaguar, wildcat, hyena, dingo, and others acting as reservoirs. Infection is commonly without any symptoms. Ctenocephalides canis, C. felis, and dog louse Trichodectes canis and human flea Pulex irritans act as intermediate hosts. Dogs and cats get infected by biting and eating infected fleas.