Taeniasis and cysticercosis

Infection with the tapeworm Taenia solium can result in two distinct conditions: taeniasis and cysticercosis. Taeniasis is the intestinal infection with the tapeworm and it occurs when a person eats raw or undercooked, infected pork. Taeniasis has no major impact on human health. However, tapeworm eggs pass in the faeces of the tapeworm carrier and in the absence of a proper sanitation may contaminate the environment. While tapeworm eggs are infective for pigs, T. solium eggs may also infect humans if they are ingested by a person (via the fecal-oral route, or by ingesting contaminated food or water). Ingestion of tapeworm eggs causes infection with the larval parasite in the tissues such as muscles, skin, eyes and the central nervous system (human cysticercosis), with possible devastating effects on health.

When cysts develop in the brain, the condition is referred to as neurocysticercosis.