Cysticercosis/Taeniasis Can it be treated? caused by T. solium. Infections with T. Yes, cysticercosis can be treated. solium are more common in Mexico, Latin You need to see a doctor to find out if you America, southern Africa, and Southeast What is cysticercosis? have this condition and to have it treated. Asia. Cysticercosis is an infection with the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, How can it be prevented? How do I get it? Taenia solium. This occurs when a person Detecting pork containing You get beef or pork tapeworms eats the microscopic (tiny) eggs of the cysticerci is important in preventing from eating raw or undercooked meat that tapeworm. The eggs hatch in the small people from getting the adult tapeworm. is infected with the larval form of the intestine and migrate to muscles, organs, In addition, treating people infected with worm. The encysted larvae are sometimes or other tissue and form cysts known as the adult form of the tapeworm will reduce referred to as beef or pork “measles.” The cysticerci. its spread to other people. infected meat is often called “measly” Good sanitation (cleanliness) is beef or pork. How do I get it? important in the prevention of Tapeworm (T. solium) eggs are cysticercosis. Anybody who handles food What are the symptoms? passed in the feces of an infected person. should always wash his or her hands after People who have the adult T. (The eggs are too small to be seen.) You going to the restroom and before preparing solium or T. saginata often do not have get cysticercosis by eating these eggs. food. Hand washing before eating is any symptoms. Most infected people only This may happen directly (for example, by important for everyone in case you have become aware that they have a tapeworm having eggs on your hand and touching handled something that had T. solium eggs after seeing the segments passed in their your mouth). It can also happen indirectly on it. For the same reason, if you smoke, feces. Other symptoms may include (for example, by eating food or drinking you should wash your hands before nausea, intestinal upset, or chronic water that has had contact with human smoking. indigestion. feces containing the eggs). Can it be treated? What are the symptoms? Yes, taeniasis can be easily treated In many cases a person with with almost 100% success. You need to cysticercosis does not have any symptoms. What is taeniasis? see a doctor to find out if you have this However, when the cysticerci are located Taeniasis is an intestinal infection condition and to have it treated. in the eye, heart, or central nervous system with the adult form of the beef tapeworm, (CNS), the results can be serious. Taenia saginata, or the pork tapeworm, T. Infections of the eye may affect the solium. Adult T. saginata can be as long person’s vision and could lead to as 12 meters and contain 2,000 proglottids blindness. Cysticerci in the CNS can or segments. T. solium is about half this result in seizures, headache, and dementia size. Taeniasis due to T. saginata occurs (reduced mental function). more often in the United States than that How can it be prevented? provided and that employees be required There are several control methods to use them. It is also necessary to find for taeniasis. Federal or state meat and treat infected livestock workers. If the inspectors must inspect all commercially cattle and swine never come into contact Cysticercosis processed beef and pork in the United with human feces then the cycle will soon States. This way, any meat found to be broken. contain Taenia larvae will be properly handled. For instance, the meat must either be disposed of or frozen at minus five degrees centigrade for four days. This, or a similar approved freezing What is the difference between process, will kill the larvae. Irradiation cysticercosis and taeniasis? will also kill larval cysts. All meat should Remember, taeniasis is the be thoroughly cooked, as this will kill any infection of a human with the adult form living larvae. These methods are used to of the beef or pork tapeworm. prevent people from getting the parasite Cysticercosis is the infection of a human & from infected meat. There are also control with the larval stage of the pork measures that can be taken to prevent tapeworm, T. solium, only. (The larval cattle and swine from becoming infected. stage of the beef tapeworm, T. saginata, cannot infect people.) Cysticercosis can How do cattle and swine get only be acquired from a person infected infected? with an adult T. solium. A human with an Cattle and swine are infected when adult T. solium that is shedding eggs can they graze on a pasture contaminated pass those eggs to another person, directly (made impure) with human feces or indirectly. containing Taenia eggs. The animal eats the eggs, which hatch into larvae and Who do I call if I have questions? migrate to the animal’s muscle. Animals Contact your doctor, local health may also become infected in feedlots department, or the Texas Department of where the feed, hay, or feed bunks are Health’s Zoonosis Control Division if you contaminated. have any questions. The eggs are shed in the feces of people carrying an adult tapeworm. To Taeniasis prevent contamination of animal Texas Department of Health, Zoonosis Control feedstuffs in feedlots, it is important that Division 5/2002 restrooms and hand-washing facilities be