• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.399-403
• /
• 2011

Species identification of Taenia tapeworms was performed using morphologic observations and multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. In 2008 and 2009, a total of 1,057 fecal samples were collected from residents of Kongwa district of Dodoma region, Tanzania, and examined microscopically for helminth eggs and proglottids. Of these, 4 Taenia egg positive cases were identified, and the eggs were subjected to DNA analysis. Several proglottids of Taenia solium were recovered from 1 of the 4 cases. This established that the species were T. solium (n=1) and T. saginata (n=3). One further T. solium specimen was found among 128 fecal samples collected from Mbulu district in Arusha, and this had an intact strobila with the scolex. Phylegenetic analysis of the mtDNA cox1 gene sequences of these 5 isolates showed that T. saginata was basal to the T. solium clade. The mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences of 3 of these Tanzanian isolates showed 99% similarity to T. saginata, and the other 2 isolates showed 100% similarity to T. solium. The present study has shown that Taenia tapeworms are endemic in Kongwa district of Tanzania, as well as in a Previously identified Mbulu district. Both T. solium isolates were found to have an "African/Latin American" genotype (cox1).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.141-143
• /
• 2004

After collecting calcareous corpuscles from plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni (sparganum), we evaluated the antigenic values of calcareous corpuscles binding proteins obtained from the cyst fluid of Taenia solium metacestodes. Immunoblot analysis revealed that cysticercosis patient sera strongly recognized 10 and 95 kDa calcareous corpuscles binding proteins. This result demonstrated that calcareous corpuscles are bound with major secretory antigenic proteins, which is possibly involved in the secretory pathways of the 10 and 95 kDa proteins presenting in the cyst fluid of T. solium metacestodes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2000

In certain Asian countries, a third form of human Taenia, also known as the Asian Taenia, has been discovered. This Asian Taenia seems to be an intermediate between Taenia solium and T. saginata since in morphological terms it is similar to T. saginata, yet biologically, as it uses the same intermediate host (pigs) , it is more akin to T. solium. Taenia solium causes human cysticercosis, while T. saginata does not. It is not known whether the Asian taeniid is able to develop to the larval stage in humans or not. The arguments proposed by those authors who consider it unlikely that the Asian Taenia causes human cysticercosis are: (a) its molecular similarities with T. saginata: (b) the absence of cases of human cysticercosis in populations where the Asian adult is highly prevalent; and (c) the unsupporting results derived from an experimental infestation study. These three arguments are debated, although bearing in mind that at present there is still no clear scientific data to support that human cysticercosis can be caused by the Asian Taenia.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.191-194
• /
• 2000

Genus specific antigenicity of the 10 kDa protein in cyst fluid (CF) of Taenia solium metacestodes was demonstrated by comparative immunoblot analysis. When CFs from taeniid metacestodes of T. saginata, T. solium, T. taeniaeformis and T. crassiceps were probed with specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against 150 kDa protein of T. solium metacestodes, specific antibody reactions were observed in 7 and 10 kDa proteins of T. solium and in 7/8 kDa of T. saginata, T. taeniaeformis and T. crasiceps. The mAb did not react with any protein in hydatid fluid of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. This result revealed that the 10 kDa peptide of T. solium metacestodes and its equivalent proteins of different Taenia metacestodes are genus specific antigens that are shared among different Taenia species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2013

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.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2013

Taeniasis is prevalent in all regions of Thailand, except the South. Infections were more frequently found in males than females of any age from 7-83 years. Taenia saginata is the most common species throughout the country. Taenia asiatica was reported only in the province of Kanchanaburi in the Central region. Co-infections, with Taenia solium and T. asiatica or T. solium and T. saginata, were found. Hybridization between T. asiatica and T. saginata is evidence that co-infection is never found between these 2 species. Finding more than 1 worm in a single patient was not entirely rare. Genetic variation was found without correlation to its geographic distribution in T. saginata, whereas no variation was found in T. asiatica.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2013

History and current status of human taeniasis in the Republic of Korea, due to Taenia solium, Taenia asiatica, and Taenia saginata, are briefly reviewed. Until the 1980s, human taeniasis had been quite common in various localities of Korea. A study from 1924 reported 12.0% egg prevalence in fecal examinations. Thereafter, the prevalence of Taenia spp. ranged from 3% to 14% depending on the time and locality. Jeju-do, where pigs were reared in a conventional way, was the highest endemic area of taeniasis. An analysis of internal transcribed spacer 2 and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 genes of 68 taeniasis cases reported from 1935 to 2005 in Korea by a research group revealed the relative occurrence of the 3 Taenia spp. as follows: T. solium (4.4%), T. asiatica (75.0%), and T. saginata (20.6%). However, national surveys on intestinal helminths conducted every 5 years on randomly selected people revealed that the Taenia egg prevalence dropped from 1.9% in 1971 to 0.02% in 1997 and finally to 0.0% in 2004. With the exception of 3 egg-positive cases reported in 2008 and 2 worm-proven cases in 2011, no more cases have been officially recorded. Based on these surveys and also on other literature, it can be concluded that taeniasis has virtually disappeared from Korea, although a few sporadic cases may remain hidden. Human cysticercosis is also expected to disappear within a couple of decades in Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.26-35
• /
• 1985

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence rate of Taenia species infection and distribution of taeniasis caused by Taenia solium among Koreans in Seoul and Cheju Do In Korea during the period from August to December 1984. A total of 4,256 stool specimens from the students of Mapo Ku and 360 stool specimens from the inhabitants of Guro-Ku in Seoul was collected and examined by cellophane thick smear technique. On the other hand 1,015 stool specimens from the students of Jocheon Myun and 265 specimens from the students of Jocheon Myun and 265 specimens from the inhabitants of Aeweol Myun and Gujwa Myun in Cheju Do were also examined. The results were summarized as follows ; Four (0.1%) out of 4.256 students were positive and 2 (0.6%) out of 360 inhabitants in Seoul were positive (Table 1, 2). Positive rates of taeniasis in Cheju Do were 1.7% (17) out of 1,015 students and 12.5% (33) out of 5 villagers (Table 3, 4). In order to observe the distribution of Taenia solium infection, the scolex or a part of Taenia spp. were collected from the stool of positive cases by anthelmintic treatment. For the species identification, expelled proglottides were examined microscopically by the number of branches of the uterus, presence of vaginal sphincter or the accessory ovarian lobe etc. Three cases were infected with Taenia solium among 6 egg positive cases in Seoul. But only 1 case was infected with Taenia solium out of 7 students taking anthelmintics voluntarily by recommendation of Korean Association for Parasite Eradication (KAFPE). On the other hand, among 32 cases of egg positive cases of this study and 26 cases of KAFPE in Cheju Do, 13 cases (22.4%) were infected with Taenia solium. But 13 cases who were not examined and complained expulsion of proglottides in their stool were infected with Taenia saginata (Table 5). Among 62 persons infected with Taenia saginata, only 4 cases did not know their infection of this worm. Rut in 17 cases with Taenia solium, 7 persons did not know their infection until stool examinations were performed (Table 6).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.51-54
• /
• 2013

Not only Taenia solium and Taenia saginata, but also Taenia asiatica infects humans. The last species is not included in the evaluation of the specificity of the immunodiagnostic techniques for taeniasis/cysticercosis. There is currently no specific immunodiagnostic method for T. asiatica available. Therefore, due to the fact that molecular techniques (the only tool to distinguish the 3 Taenia species) are normally not employed in routine diagnostic methods, the 2 questions concerning T. asiatica (its definite geographic distribution and its ability to cause human cysticercosis), remain open, turning T. asiatica into the most neglected agent of human taeniasis-cysticercosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.73-77
• /
• 2009

Differential diagnosis of Taenia asiatica infection from other human taeniases by serology has been tested. An enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) was applied to subjected human sera and tapeworm materials. Thirty-eight proteins reactive to serum IgG were observed between 121 and 10 kDa in adult worms, and more than 22 serum-reactive components between 97kDa and 21.5kDa were observed in eggs of T. asiatica. Antigens of adult T. asiatica revealed immunoblot bands between 120 and 21.5 kDa against T. asiatica infected sera. Antigens of adult Taenia saginata revealed 110-100, 66, 58-56, and 46 kDa immunoblot bands against T. asiatica infected sera. Antigens of adult Taenia solium also revealed 99-97, 68-66, and 46 kDa bands against T. asiatica infected sera. The immunoblot band of 21.5 kDa exhibited specificity to T. asiatica.