beef tapeworm
Quick Summary
The beef tapeworm, Taenia saginata, is a parasitic flatworm belonging to the class Cestoda. These worms are internal parasites that can affect the digestive tracts of vertebrates, including humans. Infection typically occurs by consuming inadequately cooked beef that contains tapeworm larvae.12
Once ingested, the larvae mature into adult worms in the human intestine. Adult tapeworms attach to the intestinal wall using a scolex, which has suckers and sometimes hooks. While some tapeworm infections cause no symptoms, others can lead to intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain, distention, flatulence, and nausea. In rare cases, tapeworms can cause anemia due to their consumption of vitamin B12. Treatment usually involves antiparasitic drugs.123
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