Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Copepods of the genus Cyclops are tiny freshwater crustaceans that serve as essential intermediate hosts for several parasitic helminths.
These parasites require a water-based life cycle to complete their larval development inside the crustacean.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the intermediate host requirements for each helminth:
- Diphyllobothrium latum (A): The broad fish tapeworm requires two intermediate hosts. The first intermediate host is a freshwater copepod, typically Cyclops or Diaptomus, which ingests the free-swimming coracidium larva. This larva then develops into a procercoid.
- Gnathostoma spinigerum (B): This nematode also uses a freshwater copepod (Cyclops species) as its first intermediate host, where the ingested L1 larva develops into an early third-stage larva (L3).
- Dracunculus medinensis (C): The guinea worm utilizes Cyclops as its sole intermediate host. Humans and animals become infected by drinking water containing infected Cyclops.
- Dipylidium caninum (D): The double-pored dog tapeworm utilizes fleas (Ctenocephalides canis or C. felis) or biting lice (Trichodectes canis) as its intermediate host, where the oncosphere develops into a cysticercoid. It has a completely terrestrial life cycle and does not utilize Cyclops.
Thus, (A), (B), and (C) require Cyclops as an intermediate host.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct combination is (A), (B), and (C) only, corresponding to option (A).