What is the Difference Between Taeniasis and Cysticercosis

The key difference between taeniasis and cysticercosis is that taeniasis is an infection caused by the adult form of tapeworms, while cysticercosis is an infection caused by the larval stage or the young form of the pork tapeworm.

Taeniasis and cysticercosis are infections in humans caused by tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia. Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that live and develop inside another animal. Tapeworm infections are common due to the consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated pork, beef, fish, or contaminated water. Tapeworms can also form cysts in the body. As a result, they cause abdominal discomfort. These tapeworms initially become larvae and penetrate through the intestinal walls into nearby blood vessels. This enables them to enter the bloodstream. As a result, infections are caused throughout the body, including muscles, nervous system, liver, lungs, and skin.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Taeniasis 
3. What is Cysticercosis
4. Similarities – Taeniasis and Cysticercosis
5. Taeniasis vs Cysticercosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Taeniasis vs Cysticercosis

What is Taeniasis?

Taeniasis is an infection in the intestines caused by adult tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia. The types of tapeworms that cause taeniasis are mainly Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm). This infection is mainly caused due to the consumption of undercooked meat such as pork and beef. Common symptoms of taeniasis include abdominal pain and weight loss. Taeniasis caused by pork tapeworm is usually asymptomatic, but severe infection results in anaemia and indigestion. Taeniasis caused by beef tapeworm is also asymptomatic. Severe conditions cause weight loss, dizziness, diarrhoea, headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, and chronic indigestion. It also causes antigen reactions that induce allergic reactions. Taeniasis caused by Asian tapeworm is also asymptomatic; however, larval cysts may develop in the liver and lungs.

Infection transmission occurs through tapeworms that develop and live in the lumen of the intestine. The body segments containing fertilized eggs are released in the faeces. They penetrate through the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream. Diagnosis of taeniasis is mainly carried out using stool samples. Most relevant tests are by enzyme-linked immuno-electro transfer blot (EITB). Prevention mainly includes the consumption of properly cooked meat, vaccination, and treating pigs and cows against diseases.

What is Cysticercosis?

Cysticercosis is an infection that takes place in tissues. It is caused by the larval forms of the parasite known as Taenia solium or pork tapeworm. Cysticercosis is acquired by eating food or drinking water containing tapeworm eggs from human faeces. Therefore, this infection transmits through the oral-faecal route. Tapeworm eggs usually enter the intestines, where they develop into larvae. These larvae enter the bloodstream and invade the host tissues. The larvae then further develop into cysterici. The cysterici larvae complete development in approximately two months. It is semi-transparent, opaque, white, and elongated or oval in shape, with a length of about 0.6 cm to 1.8 cm.

The signs and symptoms of cysticercosis appear in muscles, the nervous system, eyes, and skin. The infection develops in voluntary muscles. Invasion causes inflammation of muscles together with fever, eosinophilia, and swelling. Infection developing in the nervous system mainly affects the parenchyma cells in the brain. This presents seizures and headaches. These are life-threatening. Cysticercosis in the eyes appears in the eyeball, extraocular muscles, and under the conjunctiva. They cause visual difficulties by altering eye position and causing retinal oedema, haemorrhage, and decrease or loss of vision. Infection in the skin appears in the form of firm, painful and mobile nodules. They appear in the trunk and extremities.

Diagnosis of cysticercosis takes place through serological studies, neurocysticercosis, and CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) studies. Serological studies demonstrate in serum by enzyme linked immune-electro transfer blot (ELITB) assay and in cerebrospinal fluid by ELISA. Neurocysticercosis is mainly clinical and based on symptoms and imaging studies. CSF includes pleocytosis, high protein levels, and low glucose levels. Prevention of cysticercosis is mainly through sanitation. However, Taenia solium is present in pigs and transfers from pigs to humans. Therefore, vaccination of pigs is also a preventive method.

What are the Similarities Between Taeniasis and Cysticercosis?

• Taeniasis and cysticercosis are foodborne infections.
• They are caused by tapeworms that develop infectious cysts.
• Moreover, both diseases affect the human intestines.
• The larvae of the tapeworms enter the bloodstream through the intestines in both infections.
• Both infections spread due to undercooked or contaminated food.
• EITB is a diagnostic test that can detect both taeniasis and cysticercosis.
• Both infections can be prevented with proper sanitation and vaccination of pigs.

What is the Difference Between Taeniasis and Cysticercosis?

Taeniasis is an infection caused by the adult form of pork and beef tapeworms, whereas cysticercosis is an infection caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm. Thus, this is the key difference between taeniasis and cysticercosis. The most common symptoms of taeniasis are weight loss and abdominal pain, while the common symptoms of cysticercosis are seizures and headaches. Stool samples are used for the diagnosis of taeniasis, while serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples are used for the diagnosis of cysticercosis.

The below infographic presents the differences between taeniasis and cysticercosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Taeniasis vs Cysticercosis

Taeniasis and cysticercosis are parasitic infections caused in humans. They are mainly caused by intestinal parasites called tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia. Taeniasis is caused by the adult form of pork and beef tapeworms, while cysticercosis is caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm. Adult Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm) are the causative agents of Taeniasis while young Taenia solium (Pork tapeworm) is the causative agent of cysticercosis. Taeniasis is mainly caused due to undercooked meat such as pork and beef. Common symptoms of taeniasis include abdominal pain and weight loss. Cysticercosis is acquired through eating contaminated or undercooked food or drinking water containing tapeworm eggs from human faeces. Common symptoms of the infection include seizures and headaches. So, this summarizes the difference between taeniasis and cysticercosis.

Reference:

1. “CDC – Cysticercosis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. “CDC – Taeniasis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Taenia saginata LifeCycle” By Centers for Disease Control; Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitic Diseases – (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Taenia solium Life cycle (02)” By CDC/Alexander J. da Silva, Ph.D./Melanie Moser:Public Health Image Library – (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia