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Review
. 2013 Feb;51(1):43-9.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.1.43. Epub 2013 Feb 18.

State of the art of Taenia solium as compared to Taenia asiatica

Affiliations
Review

State of the art of Taenia solium as compared to Taenia asiatica

Ana Flisser. Korean J Parasitol. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Three species of tapeworms infect humans in their adult stage (Taenia solium, Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica). The 3 are flat, opaque white or yellowish, and exceptional long segmented parasites, measuring 1 to 12 m in their adult stage. In this review, the development of the knowledge regarding the first species, mainly focused on understanding how the larval stage or cysticercus is transmitted to humans, is described. The second species is a cosmopolitan parasite that only causes taeniosis and not cysticercosis; therefore, it will not be included. Information on the third species, which is presently being produced, since this species was recognized as such only at the end of the 20th century, will be discussed at the end of this review.

Keywords: Taenia asiatica; Taenia saginata; Taenia solium; control measure; cysticercosis; epidemiology; life cycle; parasite.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Three human Taenia tapeworms showing details in morphologic features and size range (This figure has been modified from Fig. 1 of Flisser et al., Portrait of human tapeworms. J Parasitol 2004; 90: 914-916).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Life cycles of the 3 human Taenia tapeworms (This figure has been modified from Fig. 1.2 of Flisser et al., Biology of Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica. In Murrell KD ed, WHO/FAO/OIE Guidelines for the surveillance, prevention, and control of taeniosis/cysticercosis. 2005, pp 1-9).

References

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