Parasitology: Dipylidium caninum: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Parasitology: Dipylidium caninum

Sample item

A 2-year-old child with a pet dog passes motile, cucumber-seed-shaped segments, each with a genital pore on both sides. Which is the intermediate host of this tapeworm?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Dog flea

Dipylidium caninum has the dog or cat flea as intermediate host. Children are infected by accidentally ingesting infected fleas, and the double-pored proglottids resemble cucumber seeds.

Option by option

  • A. Pig

    Pigs are the intermediate host of Taenia solium.

  • B. Dog flea (correct)

    Correct. The larval stage develops in dog or cat fleas.

  • C. Grain beetle

    Grain beetles host Hymenolepis diminuta.

  • D. Freshwater copepod

    Copepods host Diphyllobothrium and Dracunculus larvae.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is B, Dog flea. Dipylidium caninum has the dog or cat flea as intermediate host.

Why is "Pig" not the answer?

Pigs are the intermediate host of Taenia solium.

Why is "Grain beetle" not the answer?

Grain beetles host Hymenolepis diminuta.

Why is "Freshwater copepod" not the answer?

Copepods host Diphyllobothrium and Dracunculus larvae.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Parasitology: Dipylidium caninum in Microbiology. Children are infected by accidentally ingesting infected fleas, and the double-pored proglottids resemble cucumber seeds.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Parasitology: Dipylidium caninum?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.