Small Bowel Perforation Caused by Taenia Solium Infection

Kang, Dong Baek; Yang, Bin Na; Lee, Suk Yun; Park, Won Cheol; Lee, Jeong Kyun

Abstract

Taenia solium is a cestode parasite that infects various human organ systems and it causes several manifestations after ingestion of raw or undercooked pork that's infected with cysticerci. This infection is being now increasingly diagnosed in the more developed countries owing to immigration of tapeworm carriers from endemic zones, but intestinal perforation by parasite infection is a rare complication worldwide. Taenia solium has a complex two-host life cycle. Human beings are the only definitive host and they harbor the adult tapeworm, whereas both people and pigs can act as intermediate hosts and harbor the larvae or cysticerci. Although the majority of parasite-infected individuals are characterized by mild symptoms or none at all and this disease does no reveal overt morbidity, in certain circumstances this disease can lead to severe manifestations. Herein, we reported on two unusual cases of small bowel perforation caused by Taenia solium infection, and these patients were diagnosed at surgery. Efforts through antiparasitic treatment of endemic populations, development of pig vaccines and other measures that are underway will help control and eliminate this disease.