Cysticercosis Description
Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by pork tapeworm cysts in different human body parts e.g. muscles, skin, eyes, brain
Taeniasis is infection with an adult pork tapeworm in the human intestine; this can result in abdominal pain and weight loss
Cysticercosis is found worldwide. Infection is highest in many parts of the developing countries due to poor sanitation and close proximity to infected pigs
Cysticercosis Transmission
In the human intestines the young pork tapeworm come out of their cysts and develop into adult tapeworms which then lay eggs in the human intestines
Eating food and water contaminated by human stool can transmit eggs to pigs. In the pig eggs develop into larvae and form cysts in muscles and tissues
Cysticercosis Animal Symptoms
Symptoms of cysticercosis are uncommon in pigs but occasionally you will see hypersensitivity of the snout, tongue paralysis, seizures, fever and muscle stiffness
At slaughter the cysticercosis cysts are mainly found in the skeletal or heart muscles, liver, heart and brain of pigs.
Cysticercosis Human transmission
Human tapeworm infection (taeniasis) occurs after ingesting raw or undercooked pork
Humans may carry the pork tapeworm in their intestine (taeniasis), often without symptoms
The infected person will shed the pork tapeworm eggs in stool. Cysticercosis will develop in whoever consumes the contaminated fecal matter.
People get cysticercosis through eating food (mainly vegetables), water, or surfaces contaminated with stool or through self-infection due to poor hygiene.
People living in the same household with someone who has a tapeworm infection have a much higher risk of getting cysticercosis than people who don’t.
Cysticercosis Human Symptoms
Taeniasis is usually characterized by mild and non-specific symptoms e.g. abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation within 6–8 weeks after infection
In cysticercosis, people may remain asymptomatic for years i.e. symptoms occur months to years after infection, usually when the cysts start dying.
Cysts in the muscles generally do not cause symptoms. However, you may be able to feel lumps under your skin. The lumps sometimes become tender.
Although rare, cysts may float in the eye and cause blurry or disturbed vision. Infection in the eyes may cause swelling or detachment of the retina.
Neurocysticercosis (cysts in the brain, spinal cord) mainly cause seizures, chronic headaches, seizures, dementia, changes in walking. This can result in death.
Cysticercosis Prevention
Avoid unclean foods, don’t eat uncooked foods while traveling or visiting friends and relatives, and always wash and peel all raw fruits and vegetables before eating
Educate family members, children and friends about proper food handling, good personal hygiene, and proper hand and body sanitation.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork to avoid intestinal infection (taeniasis)
Wash your hands with soap and warm water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before handling food and properly handle and prepare foods
Use good food and water safety practices while visiting friends and relatives. Ensure that to drink only boiled or bottled or treated water.
Preventing or treating taeniasis in people and preventing animal exposure to human stool can reduce cysticercosis in livestock
Avoid free range pig farming and practice confining pigs to pig-pens to avoid their exposure to human stool which is a source of their infection/re-infection.
Cysticercosis Action
If you suspect that you have any symptoms of cysticercosis or taeniasis, contact your health care provider immediately
If you suspect cysticercosis: (1) In animals – contact your veterinarian immediately; (2) In humans – contact your physician immediately
Content provided by Zoonotic and Emerging Diseases Group (ZED) University of Liverpool, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Zoonoses in Livestock in Kenya (ZooLink)