Taenia Solium: The Pork Tapeworm

Taenia solium is the Human Tapeworm that comes from pork. The pig becomes infected from ingesting the eggs and once inside the intestine, the eggs release the oncosphere (first-stage larvae), making them an intermediate host, the oncosphere then separates and invades the intestinal wall migrating to the striated muscles, where it develops into a cyst-like structure, a cysticercus. The cysticercus can survive for several years in the tissue of the pig. Primates, sheep, Dogs, and cats can also be intermediate hosts. Humans become infected by ingesting raw or undercooked infected meat, making them the definitive host. There are approximately 50 million cases of Taenia solium infestations worldwide.

When a human ingests the Taenia solium eggs they can also become infected with cysticerocosis, which can spread to all of the human organs, typically the Central Nervous System (CNS). Symptoms of the cysticerocosis do not usually appear until the cyst starts to die, months to years after the original infection. Other symptoms of a Taenia solium infestation include: epigastric discomfort, nausea, hunger, and weight loss.

Humans also act as the primary host and can reinfect themselves by not practicing good hygiene.