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Taenia crassicepsis a tapeworm in the familyTaeniidae.It is a parasitic organism whose adult form infects the intestine of carnivores, like canids. It is related toTaenia solium,the pork tapeworm, and toTaenia saginata,the beef tapeworm. It is commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere, especially throughout Canada and the northern United States.
| Taenia crassiceps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Taenia crassicepslarvae | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Class: | Cestoda |
| Order: | Cyclophyllidea |
| Family: | Taeniidae |
| Genus: | Taenia |
| Species: | T. crassiceps
|
| Binomial name | |
| Taenia crassiceps (Zeder, 1800)
| |
Natural intermediate hosts of this organism are usually small rodents and moles. The larval stages ofT. crassicepsdevelop subcutaneously or in their body cavities as cysticerci which are cyst-like structures.[1]
Taenia crassicepsbegins its life in the intestines of wild canines, such as the wolf. Inside the wolf, the tapeworm reproduces. Its eggs are passed in the wolf's feces and are eaten by a rat. When the rat is eaten by another wolf, the parasite's life cycle repeats. Taenia crassiceps rarely infect humans, but if they do, they often cause ocular larva migrans that can progress to blindness. An adult human's immune system typically removes the parasite before permanent damage is done, however, juveniles are typically less defended.
Human pathologies
editTaenia crassiceps is described as an opportunistic infection in severe immunodeficiency, as in AIDS.[2]But human infection are rare, with only eight cases reported and individuals who were infected tended to be immunosuppressed patients where parasites accumulated on skeletal muscles and subcutaneous tissue, and some with intraocular infections.[3] Rodents are natural intermediate hosts, and they harbor the cyst-like larvae (metacestodes, cysticerci) in the peritoneal cavity, where they multiply by asexual budding. Humans serve as intermediate hosts when food or water contaminated with feces from infectedcanidsorfelidsis consumed.[4]
A case of intracranialT. crassicepstapeworm cysticercosis with severe involvement of the cerebellum is described. A 51-year-old German woman was hospitalized because of progressiveheadache,nausea,and vomiting. The signs and symptoms had started 2 weeks before, and intensity had been increasing ever since. At the time of admission, the patient showedcerebellar ataxiabut no further neurologic deficits. She did not have fever or other symptoms. She had no known chronic preconditions or recent hospital stays and had never taken immunosuppressant drugs. She had no family history of neurologic symptoms or malignant diseases. Combined surgical removal of the larvae and treatment withalbendazoleandpraziquantelled to a complete cure in this nonimmunocompromisedpatient. The organism was unequivocally identified by molecular methods, thus avoiding a misdiagnosis ofTaenia soliumtapeworm cysticercosis.[5]
Symptoms
editThere may be no symptoms. Symptoms may include: Headaches, Nausea, and Vomiting[6]
Laboratory studies
editPositive test results from a serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayELISAfor anticysticercal antibodies help confirm the diagnosis; however, negative test results do not exclude cysticercosis. A CBC count may reveal eosinophilia.[7]
Treatments
editSurgical removal is mandatory for individuals with intraoscular cysts. Oscular cysticercosis can be effectively treated with Anthelminthics such asAlbendazoleorPraziquantel,oralcorticosteroids.[8]
Immunoregulation
editThe immune response elicited by T. crassiceps and its antigens in human and mice cells were studied, suggesting that it had a strong capacity to induce chronic Th2-type responses that are primarily characterized by high levels of Th2 cytokines, low proliferative response in lymphocytic cells, immature and LPS-tolerogenic profile in dendritic cells, the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and activated macrophages.[9]
References
editIncludes public domain text from the CDC as cited
- ^Schmid, S; Grimm, F; Huber, M; Beck, B; Custer, P; Bode, B (2013). "JPLL InvestiGator Catalog".Cytopathology.25(5): 340–1.doi:10.1111/cyt.12092.PMID24102803.S2CID205049949.
- ^Francois, A (1998). "Taenia crassiceps in advanced immuno deficiency syndrome".Am. J. Surg. Pathol.22(4): 488–92.doi:10.1097/00000478-199804000-00015.PMID9537478.
- ^Schmid, S; Grimm, F; Huber, M; Beck, B; Custer, P; Bode, B (2013). "JPLL InvestiGator Catalog".Cytopathology.25(5): 340–1.doi:10.1111/cyt.12092.PMID24102803.S2CID205049949.
- ^Heldwein, K; Biedermann, HG; Hamperl, WD; Bretzel, G; Löscher, T; Laregina, D; Frosch, M; Büttner, DW; Tappe, D (2006)."Subcutaneous Taenia crassiceps infection in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma".Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.75(1): 108–11.doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2006.75.108.PMID16837716.
- ^Ntoukas V, Tappe D, Pfütze D, Simon M, Holzmann T. Cerebellar cysticercosis caused by larval Taenia crassiceps tapeworm in immunocompetent woman, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2013 Dec [December 16, 2013].doi:10.3201/eid1912.130284
- ^Ntoukas V, Tappe D, Pfütze D, Simon M, Holzmann T. Cerebellar cysticercosis caused by larval Taenia crassiceps tapeworm in immunocompetent woman, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2013 Dec [December 16, 2013].doi:10.3201/eid1912.130284
- ^Ocular Cysticercosis~workupateMedicine
- ^Ocular Cysticercosis~treatmentateMedicine
- ^Peon, Espinoza-Jimenez, Terrazas, Alberto N., Arlette, Luis I. (14 November 2012)."Immunoregulation by Taenia crassiceps and Its Antigens".BioMed Research International.2013.Hindawi: 498583.doi:10.1155/2013/498583.PMC3591211.PMID23484125.
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