Taenia solium

Taenia solium
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Platyhelminthes
Class	Cestoda
Order	Cyclophyllidea
Family	Taeniidae
Genus	Taenia
Species	T. solium

Taenia solium
Roberto J. Galindo, Wikimedia Commons

Also known as: Cysticercus cellulosae — Human pork tapeworm

Hosts

Intermediate host: Pig (natural intermediate host), man (accidental intermediate host) and very exceptionally the dog.

Definitive host: Man.

Identification

The adults are 3-5m in length, have a scolex, and several rows of hooks.

Life Cycle

The life-cycle is similar to that of T. saginata, except now the pig is the intermediate host. Gravid segments, containing the parasite eggs are passed in faeces. The oncospheres are then ingested by the intermediate host, in this case the pig, and pass into the blood system, infecting striated muscles. The cysticerci may also develop in the lungs, liver, kidney and the brain. Like T. saginata, humans, which are the definitive hosts, become infected via ingestion of poorly cooked meat containing viable cysticerci. Contrary to T. saginata, humans can also act as intermediate host. Cysticerci can develop in several tissues, including the central nervous system, causing neurocysticercosis in man.

Taenia solium Learning Resources
Flashcards Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions	Cestodes Flashcards
Literature Search Search for recent publications via CAB Abstract (CABI log in required)	Taenia solium publications since 2000

References

Taylor, M.A, Coop, R.L., Wall,R.L. (2007) Veterinary Parasitology Blackwell Publishing

Ito A et al. Dogs as alternative intermediate hosts of Taenia solium in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia confirmed by highly specific ELISA and immunoblot using native and recombinant antigens and mitochondrial DNA analysis. J Helminthol. 2002 Dec;76(4):311-4.

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