Question

Patients with Taenia saginata infection show more symptoms than Taenia solium because
(a) Both Taenia saginata and Taenia solium are similar in size
(b) Taenia saginata tapeworm is smaller in size
(c) Taenia solium is larger in size
(d) Taenia saginata tapeworm is larger in size.

Answer 1

Hint: Taenia saginata and Taenia solium are two types of tapeworm and are the main causes of human taeniasis infection. They are almost similar in structure and contaminate beef and pork eaten by humans.

Complete answer:
The person suffering from Taenia saginata shows more symptoms than a patient with Taenia solium because Taenia saginata tapeworm is up to 10meters larger than Taenia solium in size. But infection with Taenia soliun can even result in human cysticercosis which can be a serious problem.

Additional Information: Taenia saginata: These types of tapeworms is commonly known as beef tapeworm and is one of the three intestinal parasites that cause human taeniasis. It spreads when humans eat raw or undercooked beef contaminated by the tapeworm eggs or larvae. It is similar to Taenia solium in structure but larger and longer than them and has more proglottids, more testes, and higher branching of uteri.
Taenia solium: They are commonly known as the pork tapeworms as they contaminate pigs and spread human taeniasis. It has two types of infection. One is primary hosting that infects humans when they eat raw or undercooked pork contaminated by them and this has no symptoms and is easily treated. The other one is quite a serious one, known as secondary hosting, and spreads due to eating food and water contaminated with tapeworm eggs from feces of an infected person. The eggs cause the development of cysts in the muscles, and even in the brain.
So, the correct answer is “Taenia saginata tapeworm is larger in size”.

Note: The three species of tapeworm Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, and Taenia Asiatica can cause a parasitic infection in human beings named Human taeniasis. This infection generally spreads through cows or pigs that humans feed on. The tapeworm segments or eggs are shed in the patient's feces and contaminate the soil where sanitation is poor. Then these animals, after feeding in that area, get contaminated with Taenia eggs that hatch in the animal's Intestine and cause cysticercosis. When humans eat raw or undercooked beef or pork they get infected by these tapeworms. This infection generally shows no or fewer symptoms like abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and upset stomach.