Tapeworms are one of the many parasitic organisms capable of inducing the phenomenon called PITT (parasitic induced torphic transmission). This is a change in the behaviour, physiology or morphology of the host due to the infection by the parasite. The result is to facilitate transmission of the parastic to the next host, usually in order to complete its lifecycle.
The tapeworm is capable of manipulation the host for it's own purposes without the host's knowledge - definitely not a passive, dependent, helpless worm!
Examples of this phenomenon can be seen in copepods infected with Triaenophorus crassus. Infection with the tapeworm causes the copepod to swim near the surface of the water, where it is much more likely to be eaten by fish. This is benefical to the tapeworm as fish are its second intermediate host.
One of the most popular parasitics that cause PITT is Toxoplasma gondii:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondii
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