Taenia taeniaformis Infestation

The larval stage of T. taeniaformis, the cat tapeworm, is termed Cysticercus fasciolaris. When eggs of this tape­worm are ingested, they migrate through the bowel and often encyst in the liver of rats, mice, and other rodents. Laboratory rats and mice become infested by contami­nation of food or bedding with cat feces. Usually, only 1 or 2 cysts will be found in an affected animal. Parasitism in rats has been associated with the development of fibrosarcomas in the reactive tissue around the cyst.