Causes

Cysticercosis is caused by the spreading of the larval form of the pork tapeworm, also known as Taenia solium. When the eggs of Taenia solium are taken in by humans, the tapeworm eggs nest and eventually hatch. The embryos will then penetrate the intestinal wall and reach the person's bloodstream. The formation of cysts in different body tissues and areas of the body leads to the development of symptoms, which will vary depending on the location and number of cysts.

Transmission

Humans are the main host for Taenia solium, and some people may carry the tapeworm in their intestine, often without showing symptoms. The tapeworm eggs are some times displaced in the feces by the human host, and typically many swine ingest the eggs from contaminated food or water. The pigs can then become infected and develop cysticerci in their body tissue. When humans later eat infected raw or undercooked pork, the life cycle of the tapeworm is completed and the cycle continues with new eggs.

Human cysticercosis, however, develops after humans ingest Taenia solium eggs. The eggs are typically spread by food, water, or surfaces contaminated with infected feces. Oftentimes, the eggs can be spread from the hands of infected food handlers who do not clean their hands or from foods fertilized with water containing infected human feces. Though the source of this fecal-oral transmission often occurs from other infected individuals, it is also possible for individuals who carry the tapeworm inside themselves to create the disease on themselves. The life cycle of Taenia. solium is shown below.