Because internal organs are discarded when fish are cleaned this parasite is often overlooked. Only three kinds of fish parasites known to occur in North America can live in humans, and none of these has ever been reported in Missouri. Furthermore, these three parasites are only problems when fish are not thoroughly cooked, but eaten raw. The diagrams below detail the life cycle of three of our most common fish parasites. Life history of the Bass Tapeworm parasite 1.
Egg is eaten by water flea, first intermediate host.
Water flea is eaten by small fish, second intermediate host. Small fish is eaten by bass. Adult tapeworm lives in intestine of bass, the primary host. Segments of tapeworm pass into water with body wastes of bass. Each segment contains hundreds of eggs.