Taenia saginata

Taenia

 [te´ne-ah]

a genus of tapeworm. See figure at tapeworm.

Taenia sagina´ta a species 4 to 8 meters long, found in the adult form in the human intestine and in the larval state in muscles and other tissues of cattle and other ruminants; human infection usually results from eating inadequately cooked beef.

Taenia so´lium a species 2 to 4 meters long, found in the adult intestine of humans; the larval form most often is found in muscle and other tissues of the pig. Human infection results from eating inadequately cooked pork.

Tae·ni·a sa·gi·na·'ta

the beef, hookless, or unarmed tapeworm of humans, acquired by eating insufficiently cooked flesh of cattle infected with Cysticercus bovis.

beef tapeworm

The most common intestinal tapeworm to affect humans, which is acquired from infected, poorly cooked beef, which measures up to 3.6–7.5 m in length.
 
Clinical findings
Weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, chronic indigestion, diarrhea, headaches, vertigo.
 
Epidemiology
Infestation rarely occurs where public health officials conduct regular and rigourous inspection of meat, but is relatively common outside of North America and Western Europe.

Diagnosis
Stool examination for parasite eggs.

Management
Praziquantel.

Tae·ni·a sa·gi·na·ta

(tē'nē-ă saj-i-nā'tă)

The beef, hookless, or unarmed tapeworm of humans, acquired by eating insufficiently cooked beef or veal infected with Cysticercus bovis.

TAENIA SAGINATA: beef tapeworm (orig. mag. ×100)

Taenia saginata

A species whose larvae live in cattle. The adult worm lives in the small intestine of humans, who acquire it by eating insufficiently cooked beef infested with the encysted larval form (cysticercus or bladderworm). Adult worms may reach a length of 15 to 20 ft (4.6 to 6.1 m) or longer.

Synonym: beef tapeworm; unarmed tapeworm See: illustration

See also: Taenia