The tapeworms of the genus Taenia that infect human beings are T. solium, T. saginata and T. saginata asiatica. Taenia solium and T. saginata exhibit unequivocal features that characterize them; in contrast, only recent DNA studies, morphological characteristics, and epidemiological and sanitary aspects indicate that T. saginata asiatica is a subspecies of T. saginata. These 3 tapeworms occur in humans in their adult stage, and the intermediate hosts are pigs for T. solium and T. saginata asiatica and cows for T. saginata. Their identification is crucial considering the migratory increase from Asia to the Western Hemisphere and the fact that these tapeworms coexist in the same environment in Asia; furthermore, it is estimated that movement in both directions across the United States–Mexico border exceeds 200 million persons per yr, and thus, opportunities for acquiring and transporting T. solium infections are multiplied. It is not easy to distinguish among these tapeworms; therefore, a comparative diagram of the 3 parasites is shown in this article, which will facilitate their identification. All morphological features, some of which allow for identification, are clear and can be easily distinguished among the 3 tapeworms.
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August 2004
CRITICAL COMMENT|
August 01 2004
Portrait of Human Tapeworms
Ana Flisser;
Ana Flisser
aDepartamento de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico
bDireccion de Investigacion, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez,” SSA, Mexico DF 14000, Mexico
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Ana-Elena Viniegra;
Ana-Elena Viniegra
aDepartamento de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico
cLaboratorio de interaccion humano–maquina y multimedia, Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas y Desarrollo Tecnologico, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico. [email protected]
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Laura Aguilar-Vega;
Laura Aguilar-Vega
aDepartamento de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico
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Adriana Garza-Rodriguez;
Adriana Garza-Rodriguez
aDepartamento de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico
bDireccion de Investigacion, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez,” SSA, Mexico DF 14000, Mexico
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Pablo Maravilla;
Pablo Maravilla
aDepartamento de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico
bDireccion de Investigacion, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez,” SSA, Mexico DF 14000, Mexico
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Guillermina Avila
Guillermina Avila
aDepartamento de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, Mexico
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J Parasitol (2004) 90 (4): 914–916.
Citation
Ana Flisser, Ana-Elena Viniegra, Laura Aguilar-Vega, Adriana Garza-Rodriguez, Pablo Maravilla, Guillermina Avila; Portrait of Human Tapeworms. J Parasitol 1 August 2004; 90 (4): 914–916. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-3354CC
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