Functions of tapeworms

Answer 1

Tapeworms are hardly "useful". Indeed a tapeworm infestation is a serious medical condition leading to malnutrition as the worm diverts one's food into its own tissues.

The worm hangs onto the intestinal wall by a head called a scolex, and buds off segments containing eggs, that are released in the stool.

These segments can be seen and look something like cucumber seeds. Fortunately by means of a suitable vermicide, a tapeworm infestation is easily cured.

But of course the best approach is not to become infected in the first place. The most common source is "measly beef" and poorly cooked pork, that is beef or pork that contains tapeworm cysts. Fortunately in the western world, meat production is closely supervised, and measily meat is a rarity.

Humans can also accidentally contract tapeworms from wild rats and mice, fish, and a common one is the dog tapeworm. This can be transferred by an infected dog licking one's face.

The worst is when a human acts as a secondary host to the hydatids tapeworm. This produces huge cysts in the body and even the brain, and have to be removed by major surgery.

The best way to prevent this is to have dogs regularly treated for worms, and never feed dogs sheep offal, which is the tissue most commonly favoured by the worm cysts.

In advanced agricultural countries it is a criminal offense to do so, and working dogs must be regularly treated by law, because a cyst in a human is absolutely devastating.

Answer 2

Tapeworms are designed to go inside of people or animals and live off them, eating off the intestines or blood. Sometimes they remained lodged inside the surface of the skin and surgical removal is needed. Other times they can live in the brain and cause neurological damage, or remain in the intestines, causing problems there.

Answer 3

Tape worms are used for creation of all natural condoms

Answer 4

They can't live without taking food from the body of another animal.