Dipylidium caninum eggs are round to oval (average size 35 to 40 µm; range 31 to 50 µm by 27 to 48 µm) and contain an oncosphere that has 6 ...[LastModified:][Dipylidiumcaninum]MicroscopyEggsDipylidiumcaninumeggsareroundtooval(averagesize35to40µm;range31to50µmby27to48µm)andcontainanoncospherethathas6hooklets. ProglottidsofD.caninumcontaincharacteristiceggpacketsthatareroundtoovoidandcontain5to15ormoreeggseach.ABA:D.caninumeggpacket,containing8visibleeggs,inawetmount.B:D.caninumeggsclumpedtogetherinawetmount;imagetakenat400×magnification. Notethathookletsinthesomeoftheeggsarevisible.ProglottidsDipylidiumcaninumproglottids(averagematuresize12mm×3mm)havetwogenitalpores,oneinthemiddleofeachlateralmargin. Proglottidsmaybepassedsinglyorinchains,andoccasionallymaybeseendanglingfromtheanus. Theyarepumpkinseed-shapedwhenpassedandoftenresemblericegrainswhendried.CDC:D.caninumproglottidunderadissectingmicroscopeclearedwithlactophenol.D:D.caninumproglottidpartiallyclearedwithlactophenol,showingeggsandeggpackets.ScolexThescolexofDipylidiumcaninumisconical-shapedandhasfoursuckers. Thereisalsoaretractablerostellumarmedwithseveralringsofsmallspines,usedforanchoringintothehost’stissue.EE:D.caninumscolex.Macroscopic(Gross)ObservationsFF:AdulttapewormofDipylidiumcaninum;adultsmeasure10-70cmlong. Thescolexofthewormisverynarrowandtheproglottidsgetlargerastheymature.