Beef
and
Pork
Tapeworm
Diseases
Human
is
the
definitive
host
for
both
the
beef
tapeworm,
Taenia
saginata
and
the
pork
tapeworm
T.
solium.
The
former
is
about
25
feet
long,
whereas
the
latter
about
8
feet
long
with
up
to
2,000
proglottids.
The
main
damage
is
caused
to
intestine,
causing
obstruction.
The
life
cycle
involves
the
release
of
gravid
proglottids
to
soil,
from
where
they
are
consumed
by
cattle
or
pigs
Embryos
are
released
from
the
eggs
and
these
are
passed
to
the
muscle
of
animal
where
they
encyst.
These
may
then
be
consumed
in
poorly
cooked
beef
or
pork.
