Pork Tapeworm Life Cycle: Stages Of Development

Table of contents:

Pork Tapeworm Life Cycle: Stages Of Development
Pork Tapeworm Life Cycle: Stages Of Development

Video: Pork Tapeworm Life Cycle: Stages Of Development

Video: Pork Tapeworm Life Cycle: Stages Of Development
Video: Taenia solium Lifecycle | Tapeworm | Taeniasis | Cysticercosis ( English ) 2024, March
Anonim

The life cycle of a pork tapeworm is very similar to that of a bovine. However, there are some differences in appearance and the process of forming an adult. An armed tapeworm is easier to get rid of than a bovine tapeworm, but it poses a great danger to humans.

Content

  • 1 Building
  • 2 Development process
  • 3 Life cycle
  • 4 Ways of infection
  • 5 Why is it so important to know about the disease
  • 6 What are the dangerous worms for humans
  • 7 Conclusion

Pork tapeworm is a parasite that belongs to tapeworms. A wild boar or a domestic pig can act as an intermediate carrier of the helminth. Man is the ultimate master, but under some circumstances acts as an intermediate.

The chain can be in the human intestines for a long time, and no symptoms are observed. The maximum life span of the parasite is 25 years

Structure

The body of the worm is flat, like a ribbon, hence the name. Color - white, length - 2-3 m. In the place where the head is located, there are suckers and hooks. With the help of hooks, the worm is better fixed in the human body.

Image
Image

The body is made up of small segments, which are commonly called proglottids. They represent a reproductive unit. The flatworm is hermaphrodite. This means that it does not need another adult to reproduce. During a day, no more than 6 segments can be released from the human body along with food waste.

Development process

The development process consists of two phases. These are the so-called larval stages.

  1. The development of the first occurs in eggs. They are formed in segments of an adult. Their habitat is the intestines. At this stage, the larva is usually called the oncosphere. It is covered with a protective shell and has 6 hooks. It is the eggs that get to the intermediate host, which contain these oncospheres.
  2. The second larval phase is already the Finn. It is a small bubble filled with a clear liquid. In one place the shell is strongly concave towards the center of the Finns. This is the place where the head of an adult individual will develop in the future.

Life cycle

Before developing, the eggs of the parasite must be released into the environment. It happens in the following way. Together with human feces, eggs are released into the environment and thus enter the body of the intermediate host. Pets usually ingest them in their food.

Image
Image

After entering the intestines of the animal, the eggs turn into a larva with six hooks. The oncosphere has the shape of a ball, which, in turn, consists of many small cells. The parasite moves through all organs through the blood, into which it enters with the help of chitinous hooks. So the larvae can end up in tissues, muscles and various internal organs.

Then larval vesicles or cysticercus are formed. They look no bigger than a pea and are filled with a specific liquid. At this stage of development in the body of the animal ends. For further maturation, the host's body is needed.

Infection routes

The following routes of infection exist:

  • lack of hygiene;
  • eating poorly cooked meat;
  • close contact with the infected.

In fact, the infection scheme is simple. It is enough just one time not to observe hygiene, and as a result - a serious illness. It is especially dangerous to visit public toilets and not wash your hands after them. On unwashed hands, microscopic larvae remain, which the naked eye simply does not notice.

A person can become a carrier of a dangerous parasite if they eat raw infected meat or not fully cooked meat. Dirty dishes, dirty laundry and a number of foods can also be a source of infection.

Only an animal chooses a pork tapeworm as an intermediate host, since its body is a good environment for the initial stage of development of the parasite. But there are times when a person also plays this role. This phenomenon is possible only if a person consumes contaminated meat, while embryos have just begun to develop in eggs.

Why is it so important to know about the disease

Ignorance or even the inability to represent the life cycle can ruin the life of an infected person. The waste products of the parasite act on the human body as a poison. They worsen the general condition and negatively affect health.

The patient may not even be aware of the presence of a worm in the body and constantly complain of pains of various nature and localization. One family member can become a source of infection for others, so it is important to identify the disease and begin treatment.

Why are worms dangerous for humans

The development cycle of a pork tapeworm can affect a person in different ways, it all depends on the stage in which he is. When ingested, small cysticerci cause cysticercosis. If the organism is affected by a mature individual, teniasis may develop. This disease is characterized by unpleasant symptoms.

Image
Image

But the most severe form of the disease, which can be caused by worms, is called neurocysticercosis. In this case, the parasite infects the brain and can cause epilepsy

Cysticercosis is accompanied by severe headaches, dizziness. In some cases, convulsions were also noted. But there are even more severe cases. Due to the impossibility of normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, hypertension or dementia develops.

The course of the disease depends on the location of the lesion, the number of larvae and the immune system.

Conclusion

A person's life is at risk if a foreign organism is present in his body. One has only to follow the rules of hygiene, keep the body clean - and a serious illness will bypass. Otherwise, a long and difficult treatment will lie ahead.

Recommended: