Cysticercosis (Pork Tapeworm Infection)

TAENIA SOLIUM

CESTODES (TAPEWORMS)

DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION AND NUMBER OF CYSTICERCI

Cysticerci may develop in skeletal and heart muscle, skin, subcutaneous tissues, the lungs, liver, and other tissues, including the oral mucosa

CNS - neurocysticercosis(NCC), which is associated with serious neurological and epileptic manifestations.

Embyonated eggs and or gravid proglottids ingested by SWINE

HUMANS

• 1. INGESTION OF EGGS SHED IN THE FECES OF A HUMAN TAPEWORM CARRIER
• 2. HUMANS ARE EXPOSED TO EGGS BY INGESTION OF FOOD AND WATER CONTAMINATED WITH FECES CONTAINING THESE EGGS OR PROGLOTTIDS OR BY PERSON TO PERSON SPREAD
• 3. FECAL - ORAL (POOR HAND HYGIENE)
• 4. eating undercooked pork containing cysticerci

1. Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis involves a careful history and physical exam, neuroimaging studies (both a magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and a non-contrast computed tomography [CT] scan of the brain), and serologic testing with enzyme-linked immunotransfer blot.

2. Definitive diagnosis consists of demonstrating the cysticercus in the tissue involved.

3. Antigen testing

4. Immunoblot assay