Dipylidium

A genus of tapeworms of the family Dipylidiidae. Besides those listed below, includes D. gracile, D. compactum, D. diffusum, D. buencaminoi (syn. D. caninum), D. sexcoronatum (cats).

• D. caninum — the dog tapeworm, parasitic in dogs and cats and occasionally found in humans. Esthetically unattractive when excreted in the feces, but causes little damage other than anal irritation.