Taenia Health Dictionary

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Taenia: From 4 Different Sources

A parasitic tapeworm that infects several animals including humans (see TAENIASIS).
Health Source: Dictionary of Tropical Medicine
Author: Health Dictionary
A genus of cestodes (tapeworms), which include Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), T. solium (pork tapeworm) and T. asiatica (Asian pork tapeworm). All have human final (definitive) hosts.
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary
n. (pl. taeniae) a flat ribbon-like anatomical structure. The taeniae coli are the longitudinal ribbon-like muscles of the colon.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin
n. a genus of large tapeworms, some of which are parasites of the human intestine. The 4–10 m long beef tapeworm, T. saginata, is the commonest tapeworm parasite of humans. Its larval stage (see cysticercus) develops within the muscles of cattle and other ruminants, and people become infected on eating raw or undercooked beef. T. solium, the pork tapeworm, is 2–7 m long. Its larval stage may develop not only in pigs but also in humans, in whom it may cause serious disease (see cysticercosis). See also taeniasis.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Taeniasis

A parasitic disorder caused by taeniae or tapeworms.

In the case of infestation with Taenia saginata, the host may not have any symptoms and only become aware that he or she is infested upon sight of the tapeworm – or rather, part of it – in the stools (FAECES). In the case of Taenia solium the outlook is more serious because the eggs, when swallowed, are liable to migrate into the tissues of the body (as they do in the pig) and cause hydatid cysts. If these occur in the muscles they may cause little trouble but, if they occur in the brain or liver, they can prove very serious.

Hydatid cysts often grow to a great size, budding o? smaller cysts in their interior. The symptoms produced by a hydatid cyst depend mainly upon the effects of its size and consequent pressure.

Treatment of tapeworm infestation is the administration (on a named-patient basis) of niclosamide or praziquantal. Hydatid disease is treated by surgical removal, sometimes in coordination with albendazole.... taeniasis

Taeniacide

(taenicide) n. an agent that kills tapeworms.... taeniacide

Taeniafuge

n. an agent, such as *niclosamide, that eliminates tapeworms from the body of their host.... taeniafuge

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