Cysticercosis

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University of Oklahoma Study Abroad Microbiology in Arezzo, Italy[1]

Image of Taenia solium. From: faculty.ccbcmd.edu [2]

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

Larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium are what cause cysticercosis. If a person becomes contaminated with an adult tapeworm, an infection called taeniasis, they can shed T. solium eggs in their stool. These eggs must then be consumed through fecal-oral route transmission, which can occur by drinking water or eating food that is contaminated with T. solium eggs, or by putting a fecal contaminated object in one’s mouth. Due to this form of transmission, it is possible for autoinfection to occur. If a person has taeniasis, they can infect themselves with the T. solium eggs they shed and thus develop cysticercosis. (12)

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Created by {Jordan Voth}, students of Tyrrell Conway at the University of Oklahoma.