maniivorm

Maniivorm, scientifically known as Taenia solium, is a parasitic flatworm that belongs to the cestode family. It is commonly referred to as the pork tapeworm. The adult worm resides in the small intestine of its definitive host, which is typically humans. The life cycle of Taenia solium involves two hosts: an intermediate host, usually pigs, and a definitive host, humans.

Humans become infected with the adult tapeworm by consuming raw or undercooked pork containing larval cysts, known as cysticerci. Once ingested, the cysticerci develop into adult tapeworms in the human intestine, where they can grow up to several meters in length and live for many years. The adult worm releases eggs in the feces of infected individuals.

The intermediate host, pigs, become infected by ingesting Taenia solium eggs from contaminated soil or food. In the pig's body, the eggs hatch into larvae that migrate through the bloodstream and encyst in various tissues, most notably in muscle. These larval cysts are what can be transmitted to humans when they eat undercooked pork.

A more serious form of infection occurs when humans ingest Taenia solium eggs, not by eating infected meat. This can happen through fecal-oral contamination, such as from poor hygiene or consuming contaminated water or food. In this case, humans act as intermediate hosts, and the larvae develop into cysticerci within their tissues, including muscles, eyes, and crucially, the brain. This condition is called cysticercosis and can lead to severe neurological problems, including seizures and epilepsy. Taeniasis refers to the intestinal infection with the adult tapeworm, while cysticercosis is the tissue infection with the larval stage.