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There are two important human pathogens in the genus Taenia: T. solium (the pork tapeworm) and T. saginata (the beef tapeworm).
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The adult form of T. solium causes taeniasis. T. solium larvae cause cysticercosis.
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The life cycle of T. solium is shown in Figure 54–1. T. solium can be identified by its scolex, which has four suckers and a circle of hooks, and by its gravid proglottids, which have 5 to 10 primary uterine branches (Figures 54–2A, B and 54–3). The eggs appear the same microscopically as those of T. saginata and Echinococcus species (Figure 54–4A).
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In taeniasis, the adult tapeworm is located in the human intestine (see Figure 54–1). This occurs when humans are infected by eating raw or undercooked pork containing the larvae, called cysticerci. (A cysticercus consists of a pea-sized fluid-filled bladder with an invaginated scolex.) In the small intestine, the larvae attach to the gut wall and take about 3 months to grow into adult worms measuring up to 5 m. The gravid terminal proglottids containing many eggs detach daily, are passed in the feces, and are accidentally eaten by pigs. Note that pigs are infected by the worm eggs; therefore, it is the larvae (cysticerci) that are found in the pig. A six-hooked embryo (oncosphere) emerges from each egg in the pig’s intestine. The embryos burrow into a blood vessel and are carried to skeletal muscle. They develop into cysticerci in the muscle, where they remain until eaten by a human. Humans are the definitive hosts, and pigs are the intermediate hosts.
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In cysticercosis, a more dangerous sequence occurs when a person ingests the worm eggs in food or water that has been contaminated with human feces (Figure 54–5). Note that in cysticercosis, humans are infected by eggs excreted in human feces, not by ingesting undercooked pork. Also, pigs do not have the adult worm in their intestine, so they are not the source of the eggs that cause human cysticercosis. The eggs hatch in the small intestine, and the oncospheres burrow through the wall into a blood vessel. They can disseminate to many organs, especially the eyes, skin, and brain, where they encyst to form cysticerci (Figure 54–6). Each cysticercus contains a larva.
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Pathogenesis & Epidemiology
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The adult tapeworm attached to the intestinal wall causes little damage. The cysticerci, on the other hand, can become very large, especially in the brain, where they manifest as a space-occupying lesion (see Figure 54–6). Living cysticerci do not cause inflammation, but when they die, they can release substances that provoke an inflammatory response. Eventually, the cysticerci calcify.
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The epidemiology of taeniasis and cysticercosis is related to the access of pigs to human feces and to consumption of raw or undercooked pork. The disease occurs worldwide but is endemic in areas of Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. Most cases in the United States are imported.
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Most patients with adult tapeworms are asymptomatic, but anorexia and diarrhea can occur. Some may notice proglottids in the stools. Cysticercosis in the brain causes headache, vomiting, and seizures. Cysticercosis in the eyes can appear as uveitis or retinitis, or the larvae can be visualized floating in the vitreous. Subcutaneous nodules containing cysticerci commonly occur. Cysts also are commonly found in skeletal muscle.
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Identification of T. solium consists of finding gravid proglottids with 5 to 10 primary uterine branches in the stools. In contrast, T. saginata proglottids have 15 to 20 primary uterine branches. Eggs are found in the stools less often than are proglottids. Diagnosis of cysticercosis depends on demonstrating the presence of the cyst in tissue, usually by surgical removal or computed tomography (CT) scan. Serologic tests (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) that detect antibodies to T. solium antigens are available, but they may be negative in neurocysticercosis.
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The treatment of choice for the intestinal worms is praziquantel. The treatment for cysticercosis is either praziquantel or albendazole, but surgical excision may be necessary.
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Prevention of taeniasis involves cooking pork adequately and disposing waste properly so that pigs cannot ingest human feces. Prevention of cysticercosis consists of treatment of patients to prevent autoinfection plus observation of proper hygiene, including handwashing, to prevent contamination of food with the eggs.
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T. saginata causes taeniasis. T. saginata larvae do not cause cysticercosis.
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T. saginata has a scolex with four suckers but, in contrast to T. solium, no hooklets. Its gravid proglottids have 15 to 25 primary uterine branches, in contrast to T. solium proglottids, which have 5 to 10 (see Figure 54–2C and D). The eggs are morphologically indistinguishable from those of T. solium.
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The life cycle of T. saginata is shown in Figure 54–1. Humans are infected by eating raw or undercooked beef containing larvae (cysticerci). In the small intestine, the larvae attach to the gut wall and take about 3 months to grow into adult worms measuring up to 10 m (Figure 54–7). The gravid proglottids detach, are passed in the feces, and are eaten by cattle. The embryos (oncospheres) emerge from the eggs in the cow’s intestine and burrow into a blood vessel, where they are carried to skeletal muscle. In the muscle, they develop into cysticerci. The cycle is completed when the cysticerci are ingested. Humans are the definitive hosts and cattle the intermediate hosts. Unlike T. solium, T. saginata does not cause cysticercosis in humans.
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Pathogenesis & Epidemiology
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Little damage results from the presence of the adult worm in the small intestine. The epidemiology of taeniasis caused by T. saginata is related to the access of cattle to human feces and to the consumption of raw or undercooked beef. The disease occurs worldwide but is endemic in Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe. In the United States, most cases are imported.
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Most patients with adult tapeworms are asymptomatic, but malaise and mild cramps can occur. In some, proglottids appear in the stools and may even protrude from the anus. The proglottids are motile and may cause pruritus ani as they move on the skin adjacent to the anus.
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Identification of T. saginata consists of finding gravid proglottids with 15 to 20 uterine branches in the stools. Eggs are found in the stools less often than are the proglottids.
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The treatment of choice is praziquantel.
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Prevention involves cooking beef adequately and disposing waste properly so that cattle cannot consume human feces.