Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Parasites

Tapeworm (Moniezia) in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team6 peer-reviewed references
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Monitor and manage

Usually manageable with good husbandry; involve your vet if it worsens.

Usually a minor parasite whose rice-like segments may be seen in droppings; heavy infections occasionally affect crias.

Category
Parasites
Urgency
Monitor and manage
Also called
Moniezia

Signs & symptoms

  • White rice-like segments in feces
  • Rarely: poor growth or obstruction in crias

What causes it?

Moniezia tapeworms use free-living pasture mites as intermediate hosts.

Risk factors

  • Young animals on permanent pasture

How vets diagnose it

Visible segments or characteristic eggs on fecal flotation.

Treatment

Treatment, if needed, uses a dewormer with tapeworm activity chosen by your vet.

Prevention

  • Routine fecal monitoring; treatment is rarely necessary in adults

Background

Moniezia a genus of tapeworms that are parasitic in mammals, including sheep, goat and cattle. It comprises four known species such as M. expansa, M. benedeni, M. autumnalis and M. baeri. M. expansa is the most well known species within the genus because of its high prevalence. Members of the genus are among the largest cestodes reaching up to 10 m in length. They inhabit the small intestine of mammalian host. Their life cycle is indirect requiring intermediate host, which are oribatid mites. They are characterized by the presence of interproglottid glands.From Wikipedia — “Moniezia”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Research & references

PubMed lists 9 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. Gut parasites of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) raised in Poland. Szopieray K, Templin J, Osten-Sacken N et al. Journal of helminthology, 2024. PubMed 39665131 · DOI · cited 3×
  2. Presentation, Clinical Pathology Abnormalities, and Identification of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius) Presenting to Two North American Veterinary Teaching Hospitals. A Retrospective Study: 1980-2020. Locklear TR, Videla R, Breuer RM et al. Frontiers in veterinary science, 2021. PubMed 33829053 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 16×
  3. A survey of gastrointestinal parasites of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) raised in Japan. Hyuga A, Matsumoto J The Journal of veterinary medical science, 2016. PubMed 26725443 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 20×
  4. Two Centrifugal Flotation Techniques for Counting Gastrointestinal Parasite Eggs and Oocysts in Alpaca Faeces. Maria Pyziel-Serafin A, Raboszuk A, Klich D et al. Journal of veterinary research, 2022. PubMed 36349129 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 5×
  5. Internal parasites of free-ranging guanacos from Patagonia. Beldomenico PM, Uhart M, Bono MF et al. Veterinary parasitology, 2003. PubMed 14651877 · DOI · cited 39×
  6. Helminth infections in alpacas (Vicugna pacos), husbandry and worm control practices in South American Camelids in Italy. Castaldo E, Buono F, Scarcelli S et al. Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997), 2025. PubMed 40972913 · DOI · cited 1×

Frequently asked questions

What is tapeworm (Moniezia) in alpacas?
Usually a minor parasite whose rice-like segments may be seen in droppings; heavy infections occasionally affect crias.
What are the signs of tapeworm (Moniezia)?
White rice-like segments in feces and rarely: poor growth or obstruction in crias.
How do you prevent tapeworm (Moniezia)?
Routine fecal monitoring; treatment is rarely necessary in adults.
Is tapeworm (Moniezia) an emergency?
Monitor and manage. Usually manageable with good husbandry; involve your vet if it worsens.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.