Fig. 227.—Hymenolepis nana: longitudinal section of an embryo. bl.p., anterior opening of secondary cavity; caud., caudal appendage; pr. cav., primary cavity; sec. cav., secondary cavity. Enlarged. (After Grassi and Rovelli.)
Fig. 228.—Hymenolepis diminuta: scolex. Magnified. (After Zschokke.)
The development as well as the manner of infection is still unknown; Grassi is of opinion that Hymenolepis nana is indeed merely a variety of Hymenolepis murina, Duj., which lives in rats. According to Grassi direct development takes place with omission of the intermediate host, but with the retention of the larval stage; that is to say, rats infect themselves directly with Hymenolepis murina, by ingesting the mature segments or oncospheres of this species, from which subsequently the small larvæ originate in the intestinal wall (fig. 225); when fully developed they fall into the intestinal lumen and become tapeworms. The identity of the two forms has nevertheless been disputed (Moniez, R. Blanchard, v. Linstow), though their near relationship cannot be denied. Grassi gave mature segments of Hymenolepis murina to six persons, but only one person evacuated a tapeworm. This, however, proves nothing in a district where Hymenolepis nana frequently occurs in man; it was, moreover, not possible to infect rats with segments of Hymenolepis nana (of man). Accordingly this form may represent an independent species, which, however, like Hymenolepis murina, also omits an intermediate host.
Hymenolepis diminuta, Rud., 1819.
Syn.: Tænia diminuta, Rud., 1819; Tænia leptocephala, Crepl., 1825; Tænia flavopunctata, Weinld., 1858; Tænia varesina, E. Parona, 1884; Tænia minima, Grassi, 1886.
This species measures 20 to 60 cm. in length, and up to 3·5 mm. in breadth; there are from 600 to 1,000 segments. The head is very small (0·2 to 0·5 mm.), it is club-shaped and has a rudimentary unarmed rostellum; the neck is short; the mature segments are 3·5 mm. in breadth, 0·66 mm. in length; the eggs are round or oval. The outer egg-shell is yellowish and thickened, with indistinct radial stripes; the inner embryonal shell (embryophore) double, thin; the outer layer is somewhat pointed at the poles; oncosphere 28 µ by 36 µ. Between the inner and outer shells is a middle granular layer.