Symptoms
- Often asymptomatic
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, e.g., loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, rooting sensation around the navel, alternating constipation and diarrhea, abdominal cramps
- Itching in the anal area
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headache
- Dizziness
Incubation period: 4-10 weeks. After about 10 weeks, the larvae are infectious
Causes
Bovine tapeworm (Taenia saginata). Reservoir: cattle (intermediate host), humans (definitive host).
Transmission
Peroral ingestion of worm eggs through contaminated feces (smear infection) contaminated food (e.g., consumption of raw or non-frozen beef) or drinking water. Problem: uncontrolled spread of human feces, e.g., along trunk roads, railroad embankments, etc.; inadequate sewage treatment (flooding spreads worm eggs or larvae to meadows and pastures) Contact with infected humans or animals: 1. Development of eggs into larvae in the intestine of the intermediate host (cattle) 2. Puncture of intestinal wall and transmission to muscles (especially well perfused muscles) 3. Transmission of fins to humans (final host) through consumption of contaminated meat 4. Development of larvae in human intestine to tapeworm 5. Excretion of tapeworm eggs in feces 6. Ingestion of worm eggs from cattle through fertilized grass
Epidemiology
Bovine tapeworm is relatively widespread in many countries.
Complications
- Appendicitis
- Ileus (intestinal obstruction)
- Inflammation of the gall bladder
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- In hematogenous infection: blockage of blood vessels by the parasite embolism.
Risk factors
Consumption of raw meat and vegetables, poor hygienic conditions.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by detecting proglottids (can move) or eggs in the stool. Differentiation between infection by porcine or bovine tapeworm is made morphologically by microscopic examination. The intrinsic motility of proglottids often leads to misdiagnosis, as they are mistakenly considered to be worms in their own right.
Differential diagnosis
Gastric, intestinal, and biliary tract diseases
Drug therapy
Antihelminthics:
- Albendazole (Zentel)
- Mebendazole (Vermox)
- Paromomycin (Humatin)
Prevention
- Cooperation between physician, veterinarian and farmer
- Wash hands well after gardening or contact with soil.
- Cook meat well or freeze
- Examine the slaughtered animals for fins
- Worm eggs are resistant to alcohol and other disinfectants and can remain infectious for a very long time.
