Which tapeworm infection causes cysticercosis?

RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022

Explanation

Cysticercosis is a parasitic tissue infection caused by the larval cysts (cysticerci) of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium.
Humans become infected by ingesting T. solium eggs, typically through food or water contaminated with human feces.
The eggs hatch in the intestine, and the released larvae penetrate the intestinal wall, travel through the bloodstream, and form cysts in tissues like the brain, muscles, and eyes.
This is different from taeniasis, which is the intestinal infection with the adult tapeworm acquired by eating undercooked pork containing the larvae.
Neurocysticercosis, the infection of the central nervous system, is the most severe form and a leading cause of adult-onset seizures in endemic areas.

Option B: Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm, causes intestinal infection (taeniasis) in humans, but its larval stage does not develop in human tissues. Humans are the definitive host, not the intermediate host.
Option C: Taenia asiatica is primarily found in Asia and causes taeniasis from consuming infected pig liver or viscera. It is not recognized as a cause of human cysticercosis.
Option D: Taenia safita is not a scientifically recognized or valid name for any species of tapeworm. It is a fabricated distractor.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Causative agent of cysticercosis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A key nursing role is patient education on prevention, including thorough cooking of pork, proper hand hygiene, and safe food/water practices, especially in endemic areas.
Nurses should be aware that neurocysticercosis is a primary cause of new-onset seizures in adults from endemic regions. A travel and dietary history is crucial in the assessment.
What if? If a patient who is a strict vegetarian presents with seizures and brain imaging shows multiple cystic lesions, cysticercosis should still be considered. The infection is acquired from ingesting eggs via fecal-oral contamination, not from eating pork itself.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the link between a specific tapeworm and the disease 'cysticercosis'.
Recall or look up the different types of Taenia tapeworms and the diseases they cause. The key distinction is between intestinal infection (taeniasis) and tissue infection (cysticercosis).
Associate Taenia solium with pork and its unique ability to cause both taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans.
Associate Taenia saginata with beef and its limitation to causing only taeniasis in humans.
Evaluate the other options. Taenia asiatica is similar to T. saginata. Recognize that Taenia safita is not a valid biological term.
Select the option that correctly identifies the causative agent of cysticercosis, which is Taenia solium.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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