Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection that results from ingestion of pork or bovine tapeworm cysts in undercooked meat, or tapeworm eggs from fecal contamination of food or water. The disease is common in third world countries where pigs have access to human feces allowing the tapeworm to complete their life cycle.World Health Organization: Taeniasis/CysticercosisCDC: Cysticercosis

The disease begins with the ingestion of pork or bovine tapeworm cysts in undercooked meat, or tapeworm eggs from fecal contamination of food. After ingestion of eggs the tapeworm hatches in the intestine and crosses into the blood stream through the intestinal wall. From the intestine the larva may go to the tissue under the skin, the muscle, or the central nervous system. This crossing of the intestinal wall may happen in both humans or animals. If it happens in pigs or cows the the larval cysts that develop in muscle may be ingested and develop into an adult tapeworm in human intestines. The adult tapeworm sheds eggs into the feces and the cycle begins again. World Health Organization: Taeniasis/Cysticercosis

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have cysticercosis, please consult your doctor.

• Google Blog Search: Cysticercosis

• Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites: Cysticercosis: Answer to Case 6 (January 24, 2008)

• Oasis of Health & Wellness Blog: Parasitic Infections on the Rise in the U.S. (December 25, 2007)

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