To control spreading of Taenia saginata it is important to avoid cattle to get in contact with human feces contaminated soil. Don't eat raw or undercooked meat as they may contain cysts of Taenia. Don't drink water from suspected areas without boiling as they may contain ova of Taenia. Diphyllobotrium latum is the fish tapeworm causing the broad tapeworm infection. The proglotids are much broader then long.
Definitive hosts are man, cats, and bears.
In water the ova develop to ciliated embryos which must be ingested by a copepod where they develop during 2 to 3 weeks. If the copepod is swallowed by a fish the parasite develops in the muscle tissue of the fish. If the contaminated fish is eaten by men, cat or bear the ova develop to larvae and form the adult tapeworm. Diphyllobotrium latum may cause severe anemia since it utilizes the vitamin B12 of the host diet. Fish should therefore not be eaten raw or undercooked specially fresh-water pike.