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How Tapeworms Are Acquired

Humans generally acquire four different types of tapeworm. According to the Mayo Clinic, the pork, beef, fish and dwarf tapeworms are the most likely types to infect people. There are several ways that humans can become infected.

  1. Pork and Beef Tapeworms

    • The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service warns that taenia saginata and taenia solium, which are the beef and pork tapeworms, respectively, cause infection in people who eat raw or undercooked meat from infected cows and pigs. Tapeworm larvae are present in the meat. They grow to adulthood inside the human host.

    Fish Tapeworm

    • Fish tapeworms are transmitted by eating undercooked or uncooked freshwater fish. Medline explains that infected fish are contaminated with cysts that contain larval tapeworms. Fish tapeworms may grow to be as long as 30 feet.

    Dwarf Tapeworm

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dwarf tapeworms frequently infect people who live in overcrowded areas or in places with inadequate sanitation. The worms are passed when people touch food or water that has been contaminated with infected feces. They are also transmitted by touching infected objects and then touching the mouth.

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