Taenia solium and Taenia saginata

A. Classification
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Cestoda
Family: Taeniidae
Taenia saginata - The Beef Tapeworm
Taenia solium- The Pork Tapeworm

B. Morphology
Taenia saginata - The Beef Tapeworm
The adult tapeworms occur in humans and are very long and segmented and have an
average length of approximately 6 meters, which are composed of about 1000 proglottids.
However, they may grow to be as big as 17 meters in length, and are, therefore longer than
the adult forms of Taenia solium. The proglottids are independent segments with no GI tract.
The mature proglottids are larger and have double the number of testes that T. solium have.
Also, the gravid proglottids are larger; measuring approximately 20mm in length and 6mm in
width and have a uterus with more branching than T. solium. When the gravid proglottids are
detached from the strobila they may become very active, not only crawling away from the
feces when passed, but often actively emerging from the anus to deposit eggs from the
ruptured uterus. The scolex is one of the primary differentiating factors between T. saginata
and T. solium. T. saginata has four acetabular suckers, but no hooklets, like T. solium.
Taenia solium- The Pork Tapeworm
.
The adult tapeworms occur in humans are smaller than T. saginata, normally
averaging a length of approximately 3 meters, but may grow up to be 8 meters in length. The
strobila consists of between 800 and 1000 proglottids. The mature proglottids have trilobed
ovaries with a small central lobe in addition to the two lateral lobes and only approximately
half the number of testes that T. saginata has. The gravid proglottids, measuring
approximately 12mm long and 6mm wide, have a uterus with approximately 8 to 12 lateral
branches, less than T. saginata. The scolex in this tapeworm may also be differentiated from
T. saginata as it is equipped with a rostellum (hook) with a double crown of approximately
30 hooks.

Figure 1. A stained whole mount of the scolex (holdfast) of

Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm; the scolex measures
approximately 1 mm across. The four suckers are numbered.
Note the presence of an armed (hooked) rostellum (*); the
scolex of Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm, does not have
an armed rostellum.

Figure 2. A stained whole mount of the

scolex of Taenia solium. The scolex was
crushed when this preparation was made to
emphasize the shape of the rostellar hooks.

The eggs of T. saginata and T. solium are nearly identical. The approximate diameter is about
40m. Within the thick striated shell is an embryonated oncosphere with 6 hooks. The larvae of
Taenia saginata are larger cysticerci that are approximately 7.5 to 10mm wide and 4 to 6mm in
length. Taenia solium has small cysticerci which are approximately 6 to 18mm wide and 4 to 6mm in
length when found in the muscles or subcutaneous tissues. However, the cysticerci may be found in
other tissues such as those of the central nervous system where they may grow much larger, up to
several cm in diameter.

Figure3. Taenia egg. Note the thick,

"striated" shell and several of the larval
hooks; approximate size = 40 m. Eggs of
all species of Taenia look like this
example. (Original image from "Atlas of
Medical Parasitology.")

Figure4. Anterior region of Taenia solium showing

the scolex and neck region. The proglottids on the
right are immature; note that the reproductive
organs are just beginning to differentiate.

Figure5. Mature proglottids of Taenia sp.; each

proglottid measures about 4 mm in length.
Click here to view an image in which the
characteristic features are labeled.)

Figure 6. A gravid proglottid of Taenia solium. In this

species the uterus of the gravid proglottid has between
7 and 13 lateral branches on each side. In T. saginata
the uterus of the gravid proglottid has between 15 and
20 lateral branches on each side.

C. Lifecycle and Epidemiology

The lifecycle of Taenia solium and Taenia saginata are nearly similar, with the exception of a
few differences. The definitive host for both lifecycles is humans, but the intermediate hosts are
different for each species. A cow is the primary intermediate host for Taenia saginata and a pig is the
primary intermediate host for Taenia solium. The life cycle of these tapeworms consists of 2 phases,
an adult phase and a larval phase. The adult phase occurs only in humans, while the larval phase
occurs in pigs or cattle. The cysticerci in the undercooked pork or beef are ingested by the definitive
host and the cyst enters the stomach. The wall of the cyst is digested, thus freeing the worm. Next,
the worm attaches to the upper wall of the small intestine, in the case of Taenia solium it would use
its hooklets and 4 sucker disks on its scolex, however if it were Taenia saginata it would use the 4
sucker disks located on its scolex. Within a span of 3 months it will form into an adult. Then, the
proglottids extend down the small intestine toward the ileum and each of the segments absorbs predigested food. Next, cross fertilization occurs between the segments which all have both male and
female organs. The gravid terminal proglottids detach and migrate out the anus and the segments
disintegrates in the soil and the eggs are released. The cows and pigs eat the embryonated eggs.
Approximately 50,000 to100,000 eggs hatch within the small intestine of the animals. Each egg that
hatches releases larvae with an oncosphere that penetrates the intestinal wall. They enter the blood
stream and infect tissue. The adult worms are known to live from 5 to 20 years.

*** However in the case of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, larvae, if eaten, can also
develop in humans, causing the disease known as cysticercosis. The oncospheres invaginate and
migrate forming a cysticercus. The most common place to find the cysticerci in humans is the
subcutaneous connective tissues followed by the eyes, brain, muscles, heart, liver, lungs,etc.

D. Geographic distribution:

Figure 8. World Map

Taenia saginata:
This tapeworm is prevalent in places where beef is eaten. That includes the whole world, except for
those cultures/religions that dont eat cows such as the Hindus. Because of the meat use for food is
not inspected and Americans like medium done steak, this parasite is also seen in the U.S. Poor
countries with out efficient sanitation and sewage treatments are also susceptible to this parasite.
Taenia Solium:
This tapeworm is endemic in Mexico, central to south of America, sub-Saharan Africa, India, china
and other eastern Asian countries. Some say that the Indonesians deliberately used it as a biologic
weapon against Iran Jaye, an island in Indonesia.
Cysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease of the CNS worldwide. Neurocysticercosis is a
major health problem in Mexico.

E. Pathology and Symptoms

Most cases of Taenisis are slight and generally asymptomatic. Sometimes the following
symptoms occur; nausea, weakness, fever, change in appetite, headaches, constipation, dizziness,
diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and an increase in eosinophil count.
Cysticercosis is a serious infection caused by ingestion of Taenia solium eggs. This infection can
occur almost anywhere in the body, but most often, it is found in connective tissue. It can also infect
the eyes, brain, muscles, and organs such as the heart, liver and the lungs. Infection of the skeletal
muscle, skin or the liver usually only causes minor damage, but if it occurs in the eye permanent
damage can be done to the retina and the iris. When cysticercosis occurs in the brain it is called
neurocysticercosis. Neurocysticercosis can cause serious damage to the central nervous system.

Symptoms of neurocysticercosis include blindness, paralysis, disorientation and epilepsy. There are
approximately 50 million people infected with T.solium and T. saginata worldwide.

Figure 9. Human Brain infected

with neurocysticerosis

F. Diagnosis
Diagnosis cannot be made from eggs alone because the eggs of T.solium and T.
saginata cannot be distinguished from one another. The only way to identify the specific
worm is to look at the scolexes or gravid proglottids, which can be found in a stool sample.
The number of branches off the uterine stem in the middle of the gravid segment is different
for each type of worm. T. solium varies from 7 to 13 branches on each side, while T.
saginata averages between 15-30 branches on each side. The scolex also differs between
species. T. soliums scolex is rounder and smaller than T. saginata which is square shaped
and larger. The stool sample can also be tested for worm antigens using ELISA tests.

G. Treatment of individuals:
For T.solium and T. saginata 10 mg of praziquantel per 1kg body weight is what is
commonly used. Praziquantel works by increasing permeability of the cell membrane of the
worm. This causes loss of intracellular calcium, paralysis of musculature and massive
contractions. For cysticercosis, 15 mg/kg of albendazole is commonly recommended.
Albendazole works by interfering with the uptake of glucose and thus impairs the parasites
energy production. Also, surgical removal of the cyst is performed if it is seen. X-rays and
computed tomography (CT) can be used to locate the cyst.

H. Public health issues and Eradication:

Some ways that could decrease the influence of these parasites on humans is to
promote proper sanitation, and treatment of infected people. Cooking food thoroughly above
133oF or freezing it at 23oF for a week would kill the cyst. To break the cycle animals should
not have access to human feces. Eggs can survive on grass for 159 days, so it is important to
have proper sewage disposal.

Works Cited
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Zeibig, Elizabeth A. Clinical parasitology: A Practical Approach. W.B Saunders Company. USA.
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<http://bio.winona.msus.edu/bates/Parasitology/Taenia%20solium.htm>.
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<http://ivillage.medicdirect.co.uk/diseases.asp?step=4&pid=2252>.
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<http://healthsciences.columbia.edu/dept/ps/2007/para/old/PD3_l
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Bareza Rasoul
Sasha McClain
Marjilla Seddiq
Spring- February 2005

csm.jmu.edu/biology/.../Tapeworms/Taenia_sp di unduh pada tanggal 27 juni 2015 jam 12.00 WIT