Aquatic and Land Animal Diversity

Worms

What are the most common tapeworm infections in humans?

The long, flat bodies of tapeworms have long been associated with humans—especially in association with eating certain meals that contain the tapeworm. For example, the beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata) comes from eating rare beef and is the most common of tapeworms in humans; the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) comes from eating rare pork, but is less common than the beef tapeworm; and the fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum) is found most often in the Great Lakes region of the United States when eating rare or poorly cooked fish. It is also the largest tapeworm and can grow to a length of 66 feet (20 meters); to compare, the beef tapeworm may only reach around 33 feet (10 meters).



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