Taeniasis due to Taenia saginata is an intestinal infection of human beings acquired by consumption of infected beef harbouring its larvae (cysticercus bovis). The objective of this study was to demonstrate the development of metacestode (cysticercus bovis) of T. saginata in host (calves) and non-host animals infected with eggs of T. saginata. Each animal was given an aliquot of 2 x 105T. saginata eggs in order to experimentally demonstrate the development of the cysticercus larvae. The total number of recovered cysticerci were 243 (mean = 81 cysts/animal) from all the calves. The anatomical distribution of cysticerci in the infected calves were in the following proportion: (heart 82 (33.74%), tongue 10(4.11%), diaphragm (2.47%), lungs 2(0.82%), Liver 7(2.88%), brain 2(0.82%), oesophagus 5(2.05%): 144(4.98%); skeletal muscles (massaters 22(9.05%), front limbs 28 (11.52%), hind limbs 22(9.05%), paraspinal muscles 20(8.23%), trunk 37(15.22%): 129(53.08%). The present study indicates that young calves are an ideal host model for experimental studies of maturation and development of metacestode stage of T. saginata.
