Parasite: Tapeworm (Moniezia expansa and Thysanoma actinoides)

Description: Length may be up to 600 cm. They are long, flat and ribbon-like in appearance. The body of the adult consists of hundreds of segments which are essentially egg-filled (gravid) sacs (proglottid) that break off and pass into the feces.

Symptoms/Site of Disease: There are no specific symptoms but infestation can cause loss of weight and poor wool production. Proglottid resembling cooked rice grains sometimes appear in feces of infested animals.

Geographic: Area, Environment: Universal; young animals are more susceptible than adults.

Prevention: Proper anthelmintics and pasture management. There is an apparent acquired immunity in animals over one year of age.

Miscellaneous: The major concern with this parasite is that it robs the host of nutrients.