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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Taeniasis vs cysticercosis infection routes

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description

Although cysticercosis caused by Taenia solium ( T. soliu ) is considered a neglected disease, its life cycle has been well known for more than two centuries. T. solium not only causes cysticercosis but also taeniasis in humans. These two diseases have totally different infection routes. To acquire taeniasis (the presence of the adult stage of T. solium in the intestine), humans have to ingest the larval stage (cysticercus) that infects a variety of organs and viscera in pigs, its intermediate hosts. Therefore, taeniasis is acquired when eating raw or undercooked infected pork. The adult stage in the human intestine release eggs that contain a hexacanth embryo, the oncosphere. If humans accidentally ingest the eggs of T. solium , the released oncospheres penetrate the intestine and become cysticerci. Therefore, cysticercosis is acquired by the ingestion of eggs that contaminate water, vegetables, hands etc . These facts should not be forgotten to avoid misinformation in scientific publications.