Pork Tapeworm caused by Taenia solium – cysticercosis

27.7.3 Pork Tapeworm caused by Taenia solium – cysticercosis

This tapeworm causes public health problems. The adult of this tapeworm lives in the intestines of humans and might cause digestive upset and some diarrhea. More importantly, Taenia solium can form cysts in the tissues of humans and cause serious disease depending on where the cyst develops (such as in the brain). Taenia solium also forms in the meat of pigs and ruins their meat. The cystic form of this disease is called “cysticercosis.”

Life cycle 1. From an infected person, tapeworm segments pass into the feces and release their eggs.

1. Pigs eat infected human feces and become infected. The eggs become larvae in the pig's intestines. The larvae move to various muscles in the pig’s body and form cysts.

Cysts in meat

3. Humans who eat poorly cooked pig meat or who ingest the Taenia eggs (due to poor hygiene or eating something contaminated with the eggs) become infected.

Control:

Cysticercosis can be controlled by two methods:

1. Keep pigs from eating human feces. This may be difficult because it requires latrine use by humans and/or not allowing pigs to run loose.

1. Cook all pig meat well before eating. The cysts die when cooked at temperatures of at least 53 centigrade or 120 Fahrenheit for at least one minute. Cut the meat into small pieces before cooking to ensure that all parts of the meat are well cooked.