Which parasite is also known as the "pork tapeworm"?

The parasite known as the "pork tapeworm" is Taenia solium. This term derives from its primary host, pigs, which are the source of infection for humans. When humans consume undercooked or contaminated pork containing the larval cysts of Taenia solium, they can become infected. This parasite can cause significant health issues, including taeniasis, which is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, or cysticercosis, if the larvae encyst in tissues.

Understanding the terminology associated with tapeworms is crucial in parasitology. The "pork tapeworm" label specifically indicates the relationship with pigs and highlights the potential zoonotic transmission of the parasite. Other tapeworm species, while significant in their own right, do not share this specific association with pork. For instance, Taenia saginata is known as the "beef tapeworm" because it is associated with cattle, and Hymenolepis nana is a dwarf tapeworm found in humans and rodents, which has a very different mode of transmission and life cycle. Diphyllobothrium latum, on the other hand, is commonly referred to as the broad fish tapeworm and is associated with the consumption of raw