Bertiella

A genus of parasitic tapeworms

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Bertiella
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Platyhelminthes
Class:	Cestoda
Order:	Cyclophyllidea
Family:	Anoplocephalidae

Bertiella is a genus of parasitic tapeworms belonging to the family Anoplocephalidae. These tapeworms are known to infect the intestines of various mammals, including primates and occasionally humans. The genus was first described by Stiles and Hassall in 1902.

Morphology

Bertiella tapeworms are characterized by their segmented bodies, which are typical of cestodes. The body, or strobila, is composed of a series of segments called proglottids. Each proglottid contains reproductive organs, allowing the tapeworm to produce eggs. The scolex, or head, of Bertiella tapeworms is equipped with suckers that allow the parasite to attach to the host's intestinal wall.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Bertiella involves two hosts: a definitive host and an intermediate host. The definitive hosts are usually mammals, such as primates, where the adult tapeworm resides in the intestines. The intermediate hosts are typically arthropods, such as oribatid mites, which ingest the eggs from the environment. Inside the intermediate host, the eggs develop into larvae, which are then ingested by the definitive host, completing the cycle.

Epidemiology

Bertiella infections, known as bertielliasis, are relatively rare in humans but can occur in areas where humans come into contact with the natural hosts and intermediate hosts. The infection is more common in non-human primates, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

Clinical Significance

In humans, Bertiella infections can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. Diagnosis is typically made by identifying the characteristic eggs or proglottids in stool samples. Treatment usually involves antiparasitic medications such as praziquantel.

Prevention

Preventing Bertiella infections involves reducing exposure to the intermediate hosts and maintaining good hygiene practices. In areas where the infection is common, controlling the population of intermediate hosts can also help reduce transmission.

Also see

• Cestoda
• Tapeworm infection
• Parasitic diseases
• Helminthiasis