What is the difference between roundworm and tapeworm?
Parasites normally invest in the intestines of cats, dogs, and human beings. Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms are common examples of parasites.
The core difference between roundworm and tapeworm is that roundworm has a cylindrical body tapered shape while tapeworm is a dorso-ventrally flattened tape-like body shape.
What Is Roundworm?
Roundworms are parasitic worms found in the intestines of mammals. There are about 80,000 species of roundworms in the world.
These parasites are also known as nematodes and they have a cylindrical body shape. They have cuticles that prevent the body from expansion and produce fluid pressure in the pseudocoelom.
These parasites have a complete digestive system. It has a head marked with bristle sensory and solid shields. Some nematodes are hermaphrodites and others are dioecious.
What Is Tapeworm?
Tapeworms are long ribbon-like parasitic flatworms that are found inside the intestines of mammals. There are about 500 species of tapeworm in the world.
The scolex which is the head of the tapeworm contains tentacles for sucking liquids. These parasites have an incomplete digestive system.
Comparison Chart: Roundworm Vs Tapeworm
| Basic Terms | Roundworm | Tapeworm |
| Meaning | Is a cylindrical parasitic worm found in the intestines of mammals | Is a long ribbon-like parasitic flatworm found in the intestines |
| Classification | Belong to the phylum Nematoda. | Belong to the class Cestoda under the phylum Platyhelminthes. |
| Coelom | It is a pseudocoelomate animal | It is an acoelomate animal. |
| Type of Protostomes | Belong to the superfamily Ecdysozoa. | Belong to the superfamily Lophotrochozoa. |
| Size | Grow up to 35 cm | Vary between 1 mm and 15 cm |
| Body Structure | The cylindrical body tapered to a fine point at each end. | Has a flat tape-like body shape |
| Outer Covering | Cuticle | No cuticle |
| Segments | Has unsegmented body | Has segmented body |
| Head | Has sharp stylet for sucking | Have four tentacles used for sucking |
| Digestive System | Complete | Incomplete |
| Locomotion | Exhibits a gliding locomotion | Exhibits a thrashing motion |
| Reproduction | Hermaphrodites | Unisexual animals |
| Transmission | Through infected fecal matter or consuming animal tissue with worm larva. | Through consuming infected fleas |
| Location | Small intestines | Intestine |
| Diagnosis | Reveal through fecal flotation exam | Reveal through the feces |
| Pathology | Large infection in lungs | Weight loss and fatigue |
| Examples | Filaria worms, Ascaris, Trichinella, hookworms, and pinworms | Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Echinococcus granulosus |
Core Difference between Roundworm and Flatworm
- A roundworm is a parasitic worm found in the intestines of mammals while tapeworm is a long ribbon-like flatworm found in the intestines
- A roundworm belong to the phylum Nematoda while tapeworm in phylum Platyhelminthes
- Roundworm is a pseudocoelomate animal whereas tapeworm is an acoelomate animal.
- Roundworm belongs to the superfamily Ecdysozoa while tapeworm to the superfamily Lophotrochozoa
- Roundworm grow up to 35 cm while tapeworm vary between 1mm to 15 cm
- Roundworm have cylindrical body tapered shape while tapeworm has a flat tape-like body structure
- The outer covering of roundworm has cuticle while tapeworm does not have it
- Roundworm have an unsegmented body while tapeworm have segmented body
- Head of the roundworm has a sharp stylet for sucking while that of tapeworm has four tentacles used for sucking
- Roundworm has a complete digestive system while tapeworm has an incomplete digestive system.
- Roundworm exhibits gliding locomotion while tapeworm exhibit a thrashing motion
- Roundworms are hermaphrodites while tapeworms are unisexual
- Roundworms are transmitted via infected fecal matter while tapeworm by consuming infected fleas
- Roundworms are found inside the small intestines while tapeworm in the intestines
- Roundworms are revealed through the fecal flotation exam while tapeworm in the feces
- Roundworms cause large infection in the lungs while tapeworm cause weight loss and fatigue
- Examples of roundworms are Filaria worms, Ascaris, Trichinella, hookworms, and pinworms while tapeworms are Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Echinococcus granulosus.
Read More: Difference between Chordata and Non-Chordata
Similarities between Roundworms and Tapeworms
- Both belong to kingdom Animalia
- Both are multicellular and mobile vertebrates
- Both exhibit bilaterally symmetrical
- Both show organ level organization
- Both are triploblastic animals.
- Both are protostomes
- Both are parasitic worms
- Both have a complete life cycle
- Both feed on sucking fluids
- Both can be treated by deworming
Comparison Video
https://youtu.be/taq4mOH00hs
Summary
Tapeworm and roundworms are parasitic worms found in the intestines of animals. They show adverse effects in the body of the host but they can be eliminated through deworming.