Taenia test for pork and beef tapeworms

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Tran Thi Vuong - Doctor of Microbiology - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Tapeworms are infectious diseases caused by 2 main types of tapeworms, including pork tapeworm and beef tapeworm. Both types of tapeworm cause severe effects on the patient's health, reducing the quality of life if not treated promptly. To definitively diagnose this pathology, the doctor will assign the patient to conduct a Taenia test for pork and bovine tapeworms.

1. What is swine and bovine tapeworm disease?

Human tapeworm disease can be divided into 2 types: pork tapeworm (Swine tapeworm or Taenia Solium) and beef tapeworm (Taenia Saginata). Clinically, the two diseases caused by adult tapeworms are equally progressive, causing the syndrome of malnutrition and nervous breakdown. Both pork tapeworms and beef tapeworms can parasitize humans in the form of larvae and adult flukes.
Because this is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, each of us needs to understand the transmission routes of swine and bovine tapeworms so that we can prevent them. The transmission route of swine and bovine tapeworms is as follows:
Adult tapeworms do not lay eggs. The eggs are located in the old segments, the old ones are released from the body of the fluke and then out in the feces. Usually, the old segments of the pork tapeworm are usually passed out in the feces, the patient often does not realize that he is sick. The old segments of the tapeworm usually automatically go through the anus to come out at any time of the day, so it is easy for patients to detect that they have the disease. People who eat undercooked pork or beef containing tapeworm larvae (helminth cysts), they enter the body will escape the cyst and develop into an adult pork tapeworm / beef tapeworm after 2.5 - 4 months of parasitemia in the human small intestine. Because the tapeworm body is resistant to the proteolytic enzymes produced in the small intestine, they will survive for a long time in the human body. People who eat pork tapeworm eggs, mixed in fresh vegetables, or drink water containing tapeworm eggs, when the eggs reach the stomach, the larvae escape the shell, penetrate the intestinal mucosa, follow the lymphatic circulation or through the organization to reside under the skin, skeletal muscle, or internal organs such as the brain, eyeball... In addition, people can also contract tapeworm larvae by burning old tapeworms, containing eggs Intestinal reflux into the stomach when the patient vomits, releasing eggs in the stomach.

2. Symptoms of pork tapeworm/ beef tapeworm disease

2.1. Some common clinical manifestations of adult swine and bovine tapeworms: Patients with abdominal fullness, pain in the umbilicus, gradually feeling weak and tired, dizziness, dizziness, headache... In patients with tapeworms There is also a feeling of discomfort and discomfort in the anal area due to the burning of the fluke when it falls out of the fluke's body, crawling through the anus to come out. About 25% of patients with tapeworms have low blood pressure and anemia. In patients with pork tapeworm, depending on the parasite's location, there are different clinical symptoms. 2.2. Some common symptoms of larval cysticercosis: Subcutaneous and muscular larval form: expressed as small cysts, palpable under the skin or hidden in the muscle. Cysts are usually the size of a pea, painless, mobile, tight squeeze with the appearance of a blister of water. The most common muscles with cysts are the diaphragm, tongue, delta, intercostal, back, chest, or biceps. They can cause myoclonic symptoms. Organ tapeworm larvae: Clinical symptoms of tapeworm larvae may be different depending on the location of the parasite and the encapsulation of the larvae. -When the larvae of the tapeworm reside in the eye, it will cause symptoms such as: decreased vision, pressure behind the eyeball, increased intraocular pressure, diplopia,...
-If the cyst is in the brain, it can cause: paralysis, slurred speech, seizures, confusion or severe headache.

3. Taenia test for pork and beef tapeworms

When a patient realizes that he or she has symptoms of swine or bovine tapeworm disease, he or she needs to go to reputable medical facilities to be examined by a specialist doctor and assigned to conduct a Taenia test for pork tapeworm, cow.

3.1. Diagnostic test to identify adult pork/cow tapeworm

Direct stool test for eggs of beef tapeworm or pork tapeworm
This is a very quick Taenia test technique and does not require complicated tools and chemicals. The sensitivity of this test will be around 30 - 50%. If the patient is indicated for this test, at least 3 stool samples should be tested on 3 consecutive days in order to increase the likelihood of detecting tapeworms or eggs.
Direct stool test for beef tapeworms or pork tapeworms
The burning of tapeworms will follow the droppings of feces with the identification of small size - flat - flat head, completely self-observable by the patient. If you detect it, it is necessary to collect it immediately and send it to a laboratory of a reputable facility for an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment plan.

3.2. Diagnostic test to identify pork tapeworm larvae

Because tapeworm larvae can parasitize in different locations, there will be different diagnostic methods, specifically:
Parasitic larva form under the skin or in the muscle: Conduct biopsies of subcutaneous nodules or in the muscle for the purpose of finding the head of the fluke. The larval form of the eye: In cases where the patient has symptoms of decreased vision, pain behind the eyeball, increased intraocular pressure, if flukes are suspected, ophthalmoscopy should be performed to determine the disease. Parasitic larval form in the brain or other organs: conduct computed tomography, use serological diagnostic techniques (ELISA), test total analysis of blood cells / cerebrospinal fluid.

3.3. Antibody serology (ELISA)

It is possible to detect antibodies against pork tapeworm in serum through ELISA test, looking for IgM, IgG from which there is a basis to assess the patient's current infection or re-infection status.
Pork tapeworm or beef tapeworm, if not treated promptly and properly, will severely affect the patient's digestive system. Therefore, if anyone in the family is found to have symptoms of infection, it is necessary to take them to a medical facility with a specialty in Gastroenterology to be examined and tested for Taenia immediately, to avoid transmission to other members. again.
With many years of experience in the examination and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, the Gastroenterology Department of Vinmec International General Hospital always receives the satisfaction and appreciation of each customer by the quality of treatment. , a system of modern medical equipment and dedicated and professional patient care services. Therefore, if you have signs of tapeworm disease or gastrointestinal disease, you can go to Vinmec International General Hospital to examine and receive support and advice from qualified doctors.

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