Pork tapeworm is a parasite from the class of tapeworms. Another name for this helminth is tapeworm. Its intermediate hosts are domestic pigs or wild boars, and finally the parasite settles in the human body and can live there for up to 25 years. Helminth causes dangerous diseases - teniasis or cysticercosis. These pathologies affect not only the digestive tract. Tapeworm larvae can spread throughout the body and cause severe disease of the central nervous system, eyes or lungs. Infection occurs when eating infected meat or non-compliance with hygiene rules. People living in regions with developed pig production are especially susceptible to this disease.
Helminth body structure
The tapeworm is a huge tapeworm. Its length can reach 4 meters or more. At one end of the body of the helminth is the head. This body is stillcalled a scolex. The head is equipped with four suction cups and many hooks, with which the helminth is fixed in the intestines.
The structure of the pork tapeworm is segmented. Its long white body consists of segments. Their number can reach up to 1000. This parasite is a hermaphrodite organism, in each tail segment there are female and male organs (testes and ovaries). Here the process of reproduction takes place, eggs are formed. Inside them is the embryo - the oncosphere. Up to 50 million eggs are produced daily. Segments with oncospheres, as they mature, are separated from the body and excreted from the intestine with feces. A photo of the pork tapeworm can be seen later in the article.
Life cycle
Eggs with oncospheres leave the human intestine with feces. When they enter the soil, they are accidentally swallowed by pigs along with feed. The further life cycle of the pork tapeworm occurs inside the body of domestic animals. In the stomach of pigs, the shell of the egg is destroyed. The embryos come out. They are spherical organisms with hooks. With the help of these devices, they spread throughout the body of the animal with the bloodstream. Oncospheres can get into different organs and tissues, but their main accumulation is noted in the muscles.
In the organs and muscles of animals, the cycle of development of the pork tapeworm continues. After 60 - 70 days, the oncospheres turn into larvae. They are called cysticerci or Finns. They look like bubbles, inside of which there is a small scolex of the future parasite.
When eatingpoorly fried or boiled pork larvae enter the human body. In the small intestine, an adult helminth is formed from the cysticercus. Inside the body, not one worm can live, but several. 60 days after infection, segments with eggs come out with feces. When they enter the body of animals with food, a new life cycle of the pork tapeworm begins.
Routes of infection
Usually, a person can become infected by eating poorly processed pork infected with parasite larvae. In this case, a larva enters the body, which grows in the intestines to an adult worm.
If hygiene rules are violated, infection from a sick person is also possible. The disease is transmitted through underwear, contaminated food, dirty hands and personal hygiene items. Such infection with tapeworm is especially dangerous. In this case, the larvae are formed from eggs inside the body. They can get into different organs, which leads to serious diseases that can end in death.
The difference between pork and bovine tapeworm
Bull tapeworm resembles a tapeworm in structure, but has a length of up to 10 meters. This is also a tapeworm, consisting of segments and a head. However, tapeworm is considered more dangerous. Its head is equipped with hooks that strongly irritate the intestines.
Beef tapeworm infestation never occurs by ingestion of eggs. Only the adult parasite is formed in the intestine. Human infection with tapeworm is also possible through eggs. In this case, the larvae are formed already inbody, spread through the bloodstream and cause severe organ damage. For this reason, the tapeworm is considered a more dangerous helminth than the tapeworm.
What diseases does the parasite cause
When a person is invaded, two forms of the disease can occur:
- taeniasis;
- cysticercosis.
The type of pathology depends on the method of infection with the tapeworm. If helminth larvae enter the human body, then teniasis develops. In this case, adults of the worm develop in the intestine. If an invasion occurs through eggs, then larvae form and spread in the body. This disease is called cysticercosis, it is considered more dangerous.
Teniasis develops when infected through meat. Cysticercosis is usually transmitted from a sick person. The patient can also become infected from himself. If a patient with teniasis does not wash his hands well after going to the toilet, then he can bring the segments into his mouth. During vomiting, eggs from the intestines can enter the stomach. In such cases, cysticercosis becomes a complication of teniasis.
A patient with teniasis must carefully observe hygiene in order to avoid self-infection. Cysticercosis is a more complex disease that is difficult to treat.
Teniasis symptoms
Adult helminth parasitizes in the human small intestine with teniosis. This disease is characterized mainly by damage to the digestive tract and poisoning of the body with toxins. The following signs of tapeworm occur:
- Pain in the stomach. The parasite irritates the intestinal mucosa with hooks, whichleads to inflammation.
- Dyspeptic manifestations. The patient's appetite worsens, there is belching and discomfort in the intestines after eating. Weight loss often occurs.
- Asthenic and neurotic symptoms. The person becomes lethargic, gets tired quickly, often experiences headaches, dizziness, irritability and nervousness. Such signs are associated with a lack of nutrients that the helminth takes from the body.
- Allergy. Such manifestations arise due to the impact on the body of the waste products of the worm.
- Sticks in feces. Small yellowish-white streaks can be seen in the stools. They may be mobile. These are the segments of the worm's body that contain the eggs.
The presence of the parasite in the intestine can irritate the pancreas and bile ducts. Teniasis can be complicated by pancreatitis and cholecystitis.
Symptoms of cysticercosis
If helminth eggs get into the human body and the larvae spread, then cysticercosis occurs. At the same time, adult worms are not found in the body. This disease has different forms. The symptoms of tapeworm in this case depend on the location of the larvae.
The most dangerous form of pathology is cysticercosis of the brain. It occurs in more than half of the cases. In the brain tissues, the larvae can live for a very long time, more than 15 years. Damage to the central nervous system is characterized by the following symptoms:
- muscle weakness;
- hallucinations,delirium;
- depressive states;
- memory deterioration;
- mental disorders.
In neglected forms, cerebral edema occurs, headaches, vomiting, convulsive seizures appear.
If the larvae infect the spinal cord, then its roots are squeezed. The following symptoms occur:
- pain in the spine and limbs;
- girdle pain in chest and abdomen;
- impaired movement (in severe cases, paralysis).
When the larvae get into the eyes, the parasites accumulate in the sclera, retina and vitreous body. This manifests itself in impaired vision, inflammation of the eye tissues and can lead to blindness.
The larvae can enter the lungs. There they grow up to 2 cm, become covered with a capsule and squeeze the tissues. Patient has symptoms of pneumonia:
- shortness of breath;
- cough;
- breathing difficulties.
However, cysticercosis of the lungs very often occurs without a pronounced clinical picture. The disease is often detected by chance during an X-ray examination.
Cysticerci can enter the heart. In this case, the symptoms of tapeworm in humans are mild, but arrhythmia attacks are often observed. However, heart damage is very dangerous, as there is a serious failure in the work of the myocardium. In severe cases, heart failure is possible.
In very rare cases, the larvae infect the skin and muscles. in the subcutaneous tissuebumps appear. They are filled with liquid with a larva. Cysticercus can grow up to 10 cm. This process is accompanied by the appearance of an allergy like urticaria. But very often there is an asymptomatic course of the disease.
The tapeworm parasite in its larval form is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Cysticerci can pass through the placenta and cause fetal developmental disorders. Very often in this case the child is born dead or a miscarriage occurs. With cysticercosis in pregnant women in the early stages, doctors often recommend an abortion for medical reasons.
Teniasis diagnosis
When teniasis, the parasite lives only in the intestines. Therefore, it is usually easier to detect its presence than with cysticercosis. When diagnosing, the following methods are used:
- Fecal analysis. Helps detect parasite segments.
- Microscopic examination of scrapings from the anus. This analysis also reveals the presence of segments.
- Coprogram. Detects the chemical composition of faeces, which changes with taeniasis.
- General blood test. Patients have signs of inflammation: leukocytosis and increased ESR.
- Serological blood test. Detects the presence of antibodies to porcine tapeworm.
An important role in the diagnosis is played by the collection of anamnesis. It is necessary to find out whether the person has eaten poorly processed pork meat. The prevalence of taeniasis in the region is also taken into account.
Diagnosis of cysticercosis
Diagnosis of cysticercosis is more difficult, because inintestinal parasites are absent. Be sure to conduct a serological blood test for antibodies to parasites. Only this method can objectively testify to infection. An important role is played by the study of eosinophils, an increased number of these blood cells indirectly indicates invasion. The purpose of additional types of analyzes will depend on the location of the larvae:
- When cysticercosis of the brain is necessary to differentiate the disease from tumors of the central nervous system, epilepsy and meningitis. Assign a study of cerebrospinal fluid and blood for eosinophils, as well as an MRI examination.
- If there is a spinal cord injury, then an MRI or CT with myelography should be done.
- For cysticercosis of the eye, an examination of the fundus is performed, as well as a biopsy study that will help identify the larvae.
- When the lungs are affected, a blood test for eosinophils and X-rays are done.
- If the larvae have entered the heart, then an ECG and echocardiography should be done.
- Cysticercosis of the skin and muscles is very difficult to diagnose, usually it is detected only by serological analysis. It is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the skin and a biopsy of the tubercles.
Teniasis treatment methods
Treatment of pork tapeworm is carried out only in hospital conditions. Before conducting anthelmintic treatment, the patient is prescribed a diet. The use of fatty, smoked and flour foods is limited. It is forbidden to eat canned food, cheeses, sour cream, onions, garlic and cabbage. These foods can feed parasites.
Then the patientonce takes one of the anthelmintic drugs: Vermox, Fenasal, Biltricid. They paralyze the tapeworm's body. The parasite detaches from the intestinal wall and is passed out in the feces. Treatment is supplemented with the use of laxatives and the appointment of cleansing enemas. They also use B vitamins in the form of injections to compensate for iron deficiency in the body.
After the worm comes out of the intestines, its body must be examined. It is important to make sure that the parasite is completely removed and that there are no segments left in the body. For this reason, treatment is carried out only in a hospital setting. Then the patient must visit the doctor for another 4 months and take stool tests.
Is it possible to use folk remedies to combat teniasis? They should be used only with the consent of the attending physician, as an adjunct to drug therapy. Fern and pumpkin seeds have anthelmintic properties. However, teniasis cannot be cured at home. Only a doctor can determine that the parasite has left the body completely.
Methods of treatment of cysticercosis
Cysticercosis is a more complex disease and more difficult to treat. Therapy is carried out only in a hospital setting. Sometimes it is necessary to apply not only medical, but also surgical methods of treatment. Medicines are prescribed with great care, since the death of the larvae is often accompanied by the release of toxins. This can cause allergic shock, which often ends in death. It is important not only to kill parasites,but also immediately remove them from the body. The choice of treatment method will depend on the location of the parasites:
- If there is a small number of larvae in the brain, they are removed surgically. If there are many cysticerci, then drugs are prescribed: "Biltricid" and "Nemozol".
- When the eyes are affected, the larvae are also removed surgically, if surgical intervention is impossible, "Biltricid" is prescribed.
- Cysticercosis of the skin is treated only by surgery, tubercles with larvae are opened and the parasite is removed.
- With cysticercosis of soft tissues, the patient is under the supervision of doctors. Surgical treatment is used only for manifestations of irritation.
Antihelmintic drugs for cysticercosis are usually combined with corticosteroids. This helps reduce the harmful effects of toxins released when the larvae die. If epileptic seizures occur with brain damage, then anticonvulsants are prescribed.
Disease prognosis
Teniasis prognosis is usually good. Anthelmintic treatment often leads to the complete elimination of the parasite from the body. With cysticercosis, the prognosis worsens significantly. Damage to the brain or spinal cord, as well as the eyes and heart, often ends in death. Death occurs on the background of an epileptic seizure. Relatively favorably proceeds only cysticercosis of the skin, subject to timely treatment.
Cysticercosis of the eye canend in blindness. Without treatment, visual impairment is steadily progressing and its recovery is not always possible.
Prevention
To avoid infection, it is necessary to carefully heat the pork. In regions with a high prevalence of taeniasis and cysticercosis, it is necessary to check the meat for the presence of tapeworm larvae. It is also important to wash your hands to avoid infection from a sick person or yourself.
It is very difficult to completely eliminate human infection in an endemic region. Even the simultaneous treatment of humans and animals for taeniasis and cysticercosis did not always give positive results.
In recent years, research has been carried out to develop a vaccine for domestic pigs. Such a vaccination is possible, since antibodies are formed in the body during invasion. This vaccine has now been created. However, so far it has only undergone experimental tests, in which its effectiveness has been proven. At the moment it is difficult to say how the vaccine will work in real conditions. However, such a vaccine could be an important measure in preventing infection with the parasite.
