Taenia crassiceps
Taenia crassiceps | |
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Taenia crassiceps larvae | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
Class: | Cestoda |
Order: | Cyclophyllidea |
Family: | Taeniidae |
Genus: | Taenia |
Species: | T. crassiceps |
Binomial name | |
Taenia crassiceps (Zeder, 1800) | |
Taenia crassiceps is a parasitic organism, and is a member of the Taenia genus. It is a tapeworm. It is related to Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, and to Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm. It is commonly found throughout Canada and the northern US.
The parasite begins its life in the intestines of wild canines, like a wolf. Inside the wolf, the tapeworm reproduces. Its eggs are passed in the wolf feces, and are eaten by a rat. When the rat is eaten by another wolf, the parasite's life cycle repeats. Taenia crassiceps rarely infect humans; however if they do, they feast on the vitreous and retina of the eye, potentially causing blindness. An adult human's immune system typically removes the parasite before permanent damage is done. However juveniles are typically less defended.
Human Pathologies
Taenia crassiceps is described as an opportunistic infection in severe immunodeficiency, as in AIDS.[1]
![](../I/m/Cerebral_MRI_of_Taenia_Crassiceps_tapeworm_infection.jpg)
A case of intracranial T. crassiceps tapeworm cysticercosis with severe involvement of the cerebellum is described. A 51-year-old German woman was hospitalized because of progressive headache, nausea, and vomiting. The signs and symptoms had started 2 weeks before, and intensity had been increasing ever since. At the time of admission, the patient showed cerebellar ataxia but no further neurologic deficits. She did not have fever or other symptoms. She had no known chronic preconditions or recent hospital stays and had never taken immunosuppressant drugs. She had no family history of neurologic symptoms or malignant diseases. Combined surgical removal of the larvae and treatment with albendazole and praziquantel led to a complete cure in this nonimmunocompromised patient. The organism was unequivocally identified by molecular methods, thus avoiding a misdiagnosis of Taenia solium tapeworm cysticercosis. [2]
References
Includes public domain text from the CDC as cited
- ↑ Francois, A. "Taenia crassiceps in advanced immuno deficiency syndrome". PubMed. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ↑ Ntoukas V, Tappe D, Pfütze D, Simon M, Holzmann T. Cerebellar cysticercosis caused by larval Taenia crassiceps tapeworm in immunocompetent woman, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis [Internet]. 2013 Dec [December 16, 2013]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1912.130284