Which feature distinguishes Taenia saginata from Taenia solium?

Which feature distinguishes Taenia saginata from Taenia solium?

• A. Scolex with unarmed rostellum
• B. Egg with radially striated wall
• C. Proglottids with <13 uterine branches
• D. It is the pork tapeworm

Answer: (A)

The feature being tested is how to tell Taenia saginata from Taenia solium by scolex morphology. Taenia saginata has an unarmed scolex, meaning it lacks hooks on the rostellum, whereas Taenia solium has an armed rostellum with hooks. This difference in rostellar armament is a reliable, consistent distinguishing characteristic you can rely on when identifying these tapeworms. Egg appearance and proglottid counts can differ as well, but they are less definitive; eggs typically show radial striations in both species, and proglottid uterine branch counts can overlap. So, the clearest telltale is the scolex with an unarmed rostellum indicating Taenia saginata.

The feature being tested is how to tell Taenia saginata from Taenia solium by scolex morphology. Taenia saginata has an unarmed scolex, meaning it lacks hooks on the rostellum, whereas Taenia solium has an armed rostellum with hooks. This difference in rostellar armament is a reliable, consistent distinguishing characteristic you can rely on when identifying these tapeworms. Egg appearance and proglottid counts can differ as well, but they are less definitive; eggs typically show radial striations in both species, and proglottid uterine branch counts can overlap. So, the clearest telltale is the scolex with an unarmed rostellum indicating Taenia saginata.