Taenia solium – Adult worm : close view of the "armed" scolex

France, Magnaval Jean-François

Scolex of Taenia solium is globular, slightly quadrangular, and 1 mm long. It bears a short rostrum, a double ring of 25 to 30 hooklets, and 4 round protruding suckers. Parasite’s vernacular name is “armed” tapeworm, or “pig tapeworm”, since swine is the intermediate host.