Clinical Features:
Taenia saginata taeniasis produces only mild abdominal symptoms.  The most striking feature consists of the passage (active and passive) of proglottids.  Occasionally, appendicitis or cholangitis can result from migrating proglottids.  Taenia solium taeniasis is less frequently symptomatic than Taenia saginata taeniasis.  The main symptom is often the passage (passive) of proglottids.  The most important feature of Taenia solium taeniasis is the risk of development of cysticercosis.

Laboratory Diagnosis:
Microscopic identification of eggs and proglottids in feces is diagnostic for taeniasis, but is not possible during the first 3 months following infection, prior to development of adult tapeworms.  Repeated examination and concentration techniques will increase the likelihood of detecting light infections.  Nevertheless, speciation of Taenia is impossible if solely based on microscopic examination of eggs, because all Taenia species produce eggs that are morphologically identical.  Eggs of Taenia sp. are also indistinguishable from those produced by cestodes of the genus Echinococcus (tapeworms of dogs and other canid hosts).  Microscopic identification of gravid proglottids (or, more rarely, examination of the scolex) allows species determination.

TAKE EXTREME CARE IN PROCESSING THE SAMPLES!  INGESTION OF EGGS CAN RESULT IN CYSTICERCOSIS!

Diagnostic findings

• Microscopy
• Antibody detection may prove useful especially in the early invasive stages, when the eggs and proglottids are not yet apparent in the stools.
• Morphologic comparison with other intestinal parasites

Treatment:
Treatment is simple and very effective.  Praziquantel* is the drug of choice.  See recommendations in The Medical Letter for complete information.

* This drug is approved by the FDA, but considered investigational for this purpose.