Infection is more common in children and is associated with few or no symptoms. Children are also more commonly infected with the dog tapeworm Dipylidium caninum . Infection is acquired by consuming infected fleas or lice. Adult worms develop in the small intestine and measure 15 to 70 cm in length. Mild intestinal symptoms may or may not be present.
Diagnosis is made by finding proglottids or eggs in feces.
Human infection with dog tapeworms of the genus Multiceps results in a syndrome termed coenurosis, which is similar to cysticercosis. At present, surgical excision forms the basis of diagnosis and treatment. Sparganosis represents infection by larval tapeworms of the genus Spirometra, which are closely related to tapeworms of the genus Diphyllobothrium . Most such infections occur in the Far East. Human infection may also be acquired by ingesting raw flesh of amphibians or snakes that contains larvae of the parasite or from applying such flesh to the skin as a poultice.