Measly pork – A hidden health problem

Porcine cysticercosis is a disease caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larval stage of Taenia solium. Pig acts as intermediate host for perpetuate the life cycle of C. cellulosae. Human is the only natural host of adult stage of T. solium which causes taeniasis, a serious parasitic zoonosis. Cysticercosis in humans occurs due to the ingestion of diseased (measly) pork meat containing C. cellulosae or tape worm eggs when eating contaminated foods. The human has then become an accidental and "dead-end" intermediate host. Pigs, which are the "normal" intermediate host for this parasite, get infected with cysticerci when they ingest contaminated food and water with human faeces.