Tapeworm eggs mature into larvae in eight to twelve days. Mature worm segments (proglottids) reach freshwater in the feces of infected end hosts. A wave of sushi led to increased cases in America in the 1980s and 1990s. Risks exist when traveling in epidemic areas such as North America and Scandinavia. In Germany, the risk of infection from contaminated fish products is low thanks to strict regulations for fish processing. Fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum)įish tapeworm infestations have decreased worldwide in the recent past. The development cycle differs depending on the type of tapeworm.
The same applies to poor hygiene after contact with excrement or infected animals. In addition to consumption raw meat and fish products, unwashed raw food and contaminated fruits can be a source. In heavy rain, the canals become overloaded, causing pastures and fresh water to come into contact with contaminated wastewater. As a result, tapeworm eggs in human stool reach the sewage system.
As soon as the parasite reaches sexual maturity, it fertilizes itself. Half-raw meat and fish products contain larvae or encapsulated worm stages that mature into the adult tapeworm in the human intestine. The most common type of contact is via ingestion. More than ten different tapeworm species use humans as intermediate or final hosts. Some have remained undetected for decades. Like chameleons, the parasites integrate into the tissue. Tapeworms are survivors who are known for changing hosts. According to their estimates, the number of unreported cases is far higher. Surveys by the veterinary laboratory Freiburg in 2011 document an infestation of one percent among German pets. Thanks to high hygiene standards, worm diseases affect less than 0.01 percent of the population in Germany. Worldwide, ten million people are infected with tapeworms every year. Unspecific signs of illness such as abdominal pain, nausea, abnormal sensations and changes in stool behavior occur in a third of the patients. Not all hosts experience symptoms of tapeworm infestation. The parasites then become unwanted subtenants in the digestive tract. The pathogens are absorbed through the mouth. Contaminated food or close contact with infected animals can lead to infection with tapeworm eggs or larvae. Only a few of over 3,000 specialized species attack humans. The tapeworm (cestoda) is a flatworm (plathelminths).
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