Taenia solium

Taenia solium, also known as the pork tapeworm, is a parasitic flatworm that can infect humans. People typically get infected by eating undercooked pork containing the larval cysts or through ingestion of food or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs. In the intestines, the adult tapeworm can grow and cause symptoms like abdominal discomfort, nausea, or weight loss. If eggs are ingested, they can develop into larvae that invade tissues such as muscles and the brain, leading to a serious condition called cysticercosis. Proper hygiene and cooking pork thoroughly help prevent infection.