Cysticercosis: Difference between revisions
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===Description=== | ===Description=== | ||
Cysticercosis is an infectious disease that is caused by the larvae of <i>Taenia solium</i>. <i>T. solium</i> is a two-host zoonotic cestode whose adult stage consists of a 2-4 meter long tapeworm. The only known final host for this adult stage is humans, specifically in the small intestine. The intermediate host is the pig, so part of the <i>T. solium</i> life cycle takes place in that host prior to causing taeniasis in humans. Taeniasis is a parasitic infection caused by the presence of tapeworms in the intestine. A person with taeniasis is capable of infecting themselves or others with cysticercosis through fecal-oral transmission. Cysticercosis is transmitted by eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with <i>T. solium</i> eggs. 2-3 months after ingestion, the eggs develop into cysticerci, which are cysts formed by <i>T. solium</i> larvae. The location of the cysts throughout the body determines the symptoms that are demonstrated, diagnoses performed, and treatment used. If the cysts are located in the central nervous system, the infection is specifically called neurocysticercosis. | |||
Cysticercosis is most prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia, Mexico, and Central and South America. However, it is a worldwide issue with about 50 million people having the infection. Because of its fecal-oral transmission, it is important to prevent consumption of contaminated food and water and practice proper hand washing techniques. If the parasite does infect a host, the host immune response will attempt to remove the infection through innate and adaptive responses. Inflammation is a key to the host immune response, yet it can hurt the host as much as it benefits it. | |||
==Pathogenesis== | ==Pathogenesis== | ||
Revision as of 22:40, 23 July 2014
Etiology/Bacteriology
Taxonomy
| Domain = Eukaryota | Phylum = Platyhelminthes | Class = Cestoda | Order = Cyclophyllidea | Family = Taeniidae | Genus = Taenia | species = T. solium
Description
Cysticercosis is an infectious disease that is caused by the larvae of Taenia solium. T. solium is a two-host zoonotic cestode whose adult stage consists of a 2-4 meter long tapeworm. The only known final host for this adult stage is humans, specifically in the small intestine. The intermediate host is the pig, so part of the T. solium life cycle takes place in that host prior to causing taeniasis in humans. Taeniasis is a parasitic infection caused by the presence of tapeworms in the intestine. A person with taeniasis is capable of infecting themselves or others with cysticercosis through fecal-oral transmission. Cysticercosis is transmitted by eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with T. solium eggs. 2-3 months after ingestion, the eggs develop into cysticerci, which are cysts formed by T. solium larvae. The location of the cysts throughout the body determines the symptoms that are demonstrated, diagnoses performed, and treatment used. If the cysts are located in the central nervous system, the infection is specifically called neurocysticercosis.
Cysticercosis is most prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia, Mexico, and Central and South America. However, it is a worldwide issue with about 50 million people having the infection. Because of its fecal-oral transmission, it is important to prevent consumption of contaminated food and water and practice proper hand washing techniques. If the parasite does infect a host, the host immune response will attempt to remove the infection through innate and adaptive responses. Inflammation is a key to the host immune response, yet it can hurt the host as much as it benefits it.
Pathogenesis
Transmission
Infectious dose, incubation, and colonization
Epidemiology
Virulence factors
Clinical features
Symptoms
Morbidity and Mortality
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Host Immune Response
References
References
Created by {Jordan Voth}, students of Tyrrell Conway at the University of Oklahoma.
