Taenia saginata differs from Taenia solium in (a) absence of scolex hooks (b) absence of scolex hooks and uterine branching (c) absence of scolex hooks and presence of both male and female reproductive organs (d) presence of scolex hooks.
Option A The beef tapeworm Taenia saginata is similar to the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, in structure and life history. It is the commonest tapeworm of man with a much greater incidence than that of T. solium. Its intermediate hosts are cattle and buffaloes. It is longer than T.solium, usually attaining a length upto 12 meters or more. Scolex bears four strong, rounded, adhesive suckers but lacks hooks. Strobila comprises up to 2,000 proglottids. A gravid proglottid contains about 100,000 eggs. Uterus of gravid proglottids has 15 to 35 branches on either side.
