Korean J Parasitol.  2001 Dec;39(4):267-283. 10.3347/kjp.2001.39.4.267.

Epidemiological understanding of Taenia tapeworm infections with special reference to Taenia asiatica in Korea

• Eom KS
• Rim HJ

• KMID: 1720397
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2001.39.4.267

Abstract

In endemic areas of Taenia tapeworms in Korea, most of the reports showed that T. saginata was dominant over T. solium, but eating pigs is the dominant habit over eating cattle. Why do they have more T. saginata despite lower consumption of beef? This problem actually has long been recognized but until recently there has been no intensive trial to give a scientific explanation on this epidemiological enigma. By summing up the data published between the years 1963 and 1999, the ratio of armed versus unarmed tapeworms in humans was estimated at approximately 1:5. The ratio of pig-eaters versus cattle-eaters, however, was approximately 5:1. This inconsistency could be explained with the recently described T. asiatica, which infects humans through the eating of pig's viscera. We re-evaluate the importance of the consumption of visceral organ of pigs. leading us to an improved epidemiological understanding of the T. asiatica infection together with co-existing T. saginata and T. solium in Korea.

MeSH Terms

EIN - Korean J Parasitol 2002 Mar;40(1):32
Animals
Cattle
Cattle Diseases/epidemiology/parasitology
*Endemic Diseases
Human
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/*epidemiology
Korea/epidemiology
Prevalence
Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Swine
Swine Diseases/epidemiology/parasitology
Taeniasis/*epidemiology/parasitology/veterinary