Taenia solium (cysticercosis)
Taenia solium infection in pigs and T. saginata infection in
cattle pose a risk to man of taeniasis, an intestinal tapeworm
infection. This disease results from ingestion of intermediate
larval stages (cysticerci) found in muscle tissue of pigs and
cattle. Adult tapeworms in the intestine can be treated and are
seldom life-threatening. Human cysticercosis is caused by
accidental ingestion of T. solium eggs, from infected persons
or in contaminated water or soil, and the subsequent
development of cysticerci in the muscle and other tissues.
Cysticerci in the brain can induce seizures and related
symptoms as a result of mechanical damage to tissues caused
by cysticerci, inflammatory reactions to the infection and
secondary effects such as fibrosis (37). Reduction in the risk of
human cysticercosis is directly related to the reduction in
infection of humans with the adult tapeworm acquired from
ingestion of infected pork. Details of the life-cycle of T. solium
are given in Figure 4.