Tapeworm Infestation Causative agent: Tapeworms are parasitic Helmiths of the Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flatworms) and Class Cestodes. They include Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) and Diphyllobothrium latum and Echinococcus granulosus . Anatomy: Scolex (head) with suckers, sometimes hooks. Proglottids -body segments continuously produced by the scolex which contain both testes and ovaries that mature as they move away from scolex to produce eggs. Taenia tapeworms can live up to 25 yrs. and grow to 18 ft. D. latum have been found as long as 32 ft. and can produce millions of eggs per day. Tapeworms lack a digestive sys