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

Signs and Symptoms

• 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

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