Taenia saginata

Background

• also known as the beef tapeworm
• humans are the only known definitive host, cattle are intermediate hosts

Transmission

• transmitted by ingesting undercooked beef containing the tapeworm larvae
• larvae mature in the human intestines and the mature tapeworm attaches to the intestinal walls to ingest nutrients from the host
• mature tapeworms release gravid proglottids in the stool which release eggs into the stool, which can remain active in sewage for several weeks

Clinical Features

• symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, hunger pain, weight loss, and appendicitis, as well as discomfort of the proglottids crawling out of the anus
• symptoms are more severe in those with immature or compromised immune systems

Differential Diagnosis

Helminth infections

Cestodes (Tapeworms)

• Taenia saginata
• Taenia solium (Cysticercosis)
• Diphyllobothrium latum
• Hymenolepis nana
• Echinococcus granulosus

Trematodes (Flukes)

• Fasciola hepatica
• Fasciolopsis buski
• Opistorchis viverrini
• Schistosoma spp
  • Schistosomiasis
• Chlonorchis sinensis
• Paragonimus spp.

Nematodes (Roundworms)

• Ascaris lumbricoides
• Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm)
• Filarial worms
  • Loa Loa
  • Onchocerciasis
  • Lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis)
    • Wuchereria bancrofti
    • Brugia malayi
    • Brugia timori
• Hookworm
  • Necator americanus
  • Ancylostoma duodenale
  • Cutaneous larva migrans (Ancylostoma braziliense)
• Dracunculiasis
• Strongyloides stercoralis
• Trichuris trichiura (Whipworm)
• Anisakis
• Toxocara spp.
• Trichinosis

Treatment

• praziquantel, single dose of 5-10 mg/kg (2)
• niclosamide outside the U.S. (single dose of 2 gm or 50 mg/kg for pediatrics) (2)

See Also

• Microbiology (Main)

References

1. Stanford University (n.d.). Taenia saginata. Retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/parasites/ParaSites2001/taeniasis/saginata3.html
2. Pearson RD. Merck Manual. Taenia Saginata infection Retrieved from http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/cestodes-(tapeworms)/taenia-saginata-(beef-tapeworm)-infection