In the life cycle of Taenia solium, which stage is responsible for neurocysticercosis in humans, and how is it acquired?
- A Cysticercus cellulosae — ingestion of T. solium eggs from contaminated food/water or autoinfection ✓
- B Cysticercus cellulosae — ingestion of undercooked pork containing cysts
- C Adult tapeworm — attachment to CNS vessels after intestinal migration
- D Oncosphere — direct penetration of the gut wall following proglottid ingestion
Explanation
Neurocysticercosis results when humans act as intermediate hosts for T. solium. This occurs by ingesting T. solium eggs (not cysticerci) — either from contaminated food/water (feco-oral) or by autoinfection (the patient has an intestinal adult tapeworm and ingests their own eggs via reverse peristalsis or contamination). The eggs hatch to release oncospheres which penetrate the gut wall, enter bloodstream, and encyst as cysticercus cellulosae in the CNS, muscle, and eye. Eating undercooked pork containing cysticerci produces intestinal taeniasis (adult worm), NOT neurocysticercosis.
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.