What is a Tapeworm?
Tapeworms are a type of parasite that can live in the human’s body and may or may not cause a wide range of symptoms.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there are a number of species of tapeworm known to infect humans. The most common types of tapeworms that can cause parasitic infections in humans are:1, 2
- Taenia saginata – tapeworms from eating contaminated beef.
- Taenia solium and taenia asiatica – tapeworms found in pork.
- Diphyllobothrium latum – tapeworms in humans from eating undercooked or raw fish.
Lifecycle of a tapeworm in humans
Getting rid of tapeworm parasites in humans can be a challenge because of their lifecycle. Dr. Richard D. Pearson from the University of Virginia School of Medicine says that the lifecycle of a tapeworm is as follows:3
