Microscope photograph of Taenia solium tapeworm proglottids.

CDC photomicrograph of Taenia solium proglottids; magnification 8×.

Creator: CDC/ Dr. Mae Melvin

Licence: Public Domain (U.S. HHS/CDC work)

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Species record

Pork Tapeworm

Taenia solium

Explore the Pork Tapeworm (Taenia solium) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The pork tapeworm has a life cycle involving people and pigs. Adult worms live in the human small intestine; pigs can become infected by swallowing eggs from contaminated food or soil, and larval cysts develop in their muscles. People can get an adult tapeworm from undercooked infected pork, while swallowing eggs can cause cysts in human tissues. Taenia solium occurs worldwide, especially where people and pigs live in close contact and sanitation is limited.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Flatworms
  3. Class: Tapeworms
  4. Order: Cyclophyllidea
  5. Family: Taeniidae
  6. Genus: Taenia

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
human small intestine (adult stage), pig muscle (larval cyst stage), food or soil contaminated with infected feces
Selected regions
Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • A pork tapeworm grips the inside of the intestine with a small head-like end called a scolex.

Sources and attribution