Morphology
The eggs of ''T. serialis'' are spherical and are 32 to 38 μm in diameter. The larvae form bladders called Coenurus metacestode that can grow to be as large as 10 cm in the intermediate hosts. The larvae are white and can mature to 40mm while the adult can reach lengths of up to 5 meters. ''Taenia serialis'' is morphologically very similar to ''Taenia multiceps''; however, they infect different areas of the body. ''T. serialis'' infects the subcutaneous tissue and ''T. multiceps'' will commonly infect the eyes and brain.Life Cycle
The eggs are expelled in feces of the dog and ingested by the intermediate rabbit host. In the rabbit or other accidental intermediate host the eggs hatch within the intestines then invade the intestinal wall and move into the bloodstream. The larva circulates in the blood to the central nervous system, muscles, or soft tissue where they can form a coenurus metacestode, which is the intermediate stage of the parasite. A coenurus is a fluid-filled cyst with one or more scoleces surrounded by a fibrous capsule. These normally form after 3 months and are a 10 cm wide lesion. These painless nodules present in the skin or subcutaneous tissue are a sign of infection and are used to diagnose a host with the parasite. Once the Coenurus metacestode has been consumed by the fox or dog, it completes its metamorphosis into an adult tapeworm. In the canid, the worm attaches to the intestine and feeds of the food that the host ingests. There the worm matures and can become as long as 5 meters. The adult cestode produces eggs which are spread into the environment by the feces of the definitive host. This life cycle is also very similar to ''T. pisiformis'' a canine and rabbit infecting parasite; however, ''T. pisiformis'' infected the body cavity of the rabbit and ''T. serialis'' infects muscle and subcutaneous tissue.Treatment
Treating the lesions can be done with surgery or medicine. Oral praziquantel can be used to kill coenuri; however, the dead parasite will cause a large inflammatory response in the host. The inflammation can be managed with the use of corticosteroids. In many cases surgical removal of the coenurus is a safer option with leakage of fluid from the cyst during surgery being unlikely to cause a new cyst and surgical excision is often curative.Geographic distribution
''Taenia serialis'' has been found in a number of locations including North America, South America, Europe and Africa.References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q289271 Cestoda Animals described in 1847