Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
09:44
Magnetic Stirrer Method for the Detection of Trichinella Larvae in Muscle Samples
Published on: March 3, 2017
31.0K
Taenia: An Uninvited Guest.
Afshin Shafaghi1, Kambiz Akhavan Rezayat2, Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei1
1Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
The American Journal of Case Reports
|July 31, 2015
Summary
A rare case of tapeworm (Taenia) migrating into the stomach was observed in a patient with chronic abdominal pain. Treatment with niclosamide successfully resolved the symptoms, suggesting low gastric acidity as a potential cause.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Taenia saginata and Taenia solium are globally prevalent parasites causing significant economic and medical burdens through bovine/porcine cysticercosis and human taeniasis.
- Human taeniasis, caused by intestinal tapeworms, is a widespread zoonotic disease with considerable public health implications.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old woman presented with chronic abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and epigastric fullness.
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a large tapeworm within the stomach.
- Initial attempts to endoscopically remove the tapeworm were unsuccessful.
Findings:
- The patient received niclosamide therapy, leading to symptom alleviation and relief from chronic pain.
- The retrograde migration of the tapeworm into the stomach is hypothesized to be linked to reduced gastric acidity.
- Potential contributing factors to low gastric acidity include atrophic gastritis and chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual presentation of taeniasis with gastric involvement.
- Understanding the predisposing factors, such as low gastric acidity, is crucial for managing complex tapeworm infections.
- Further investigation into the relationship between gastric conditions and tapeworm migration may inform clinical practice and patient management.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
52
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
52
01:27Microbiota of the Large Intestine
53
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
53
01:15Spinal Cord: Gross Anatomy
7.3K
The spinal cord resides within the protective confines of the vertebral column. It is the main pathway for information traveling between the brain and the body. It plays a fundamental role in nearly all bodily functions, from simple reflexes to complex motor movements. The spinal cord begins at the medulla oblongata at the base of the brainstem and extends downward, terminating at the conus medullaris near the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The spinal cord's length in adults is...
7.3K
01:09Large Intestine
6.7K
The large intestine is divided into three main regions: the cecum, colon, and rectum. Extending from the ileocecal valve to the anus, it frames the small intestine on three sides.
The ileocecal sphincter, a mucous membrane fold, guards the opening from the ileum to the large intestine. This valve permits material from the small intestine to pass into the large intestine. Attached to the ileocecal valve is the cecum. This small pouch, approximately 6 cm long, has a twisted, coiled tube known as...
The ileocecal sphincter, a mucous membrane fold, guards the opening from the ileum to the large intestine. This valve permits material from the small intestine to pass into the large intestine. Attached to the ileocecal valve is the cecum. This small pouch, approximately 6 cm long, has a twisted, coiled tube known as...
6.7K
01:10Tension
14.2K
Tension is a force along the length of a medium, in particular, a force carried by a flexible medium, such as a rope or cable. The word "tension" comes from Latin, meaning "to stretch". Not coincidentally, the flexible cords that carry muscle forces to other parts of the body are called tendons. Any flexible connector, such as a string, rope, chain, wire, or cable, can exert pull only parallel to its length; so, a force carried by a flexible connector is a tension with a...
14.2K
01:15Diversity of Protists I
2.2K
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
2.2K