‘Pork is healthy’ but pork consuming people should remain aware about human ophthalmic-cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis. This alarming form of the disease cysticercosis is a public health problem in developing countries and is a “biological marker” of social and economic development.
Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the Central Nervous System and identified as a cause of acquired active epilepsy.
What is measly pork?
Pigs flesh containing cysticercus (larval form of pork tapeworm, Taenia solium) is called measly pork.
How do you know if a pig is infected?
Pigs usually do not show signs of infection. Pigs acquire infection through consumption of human faeces, or through feed and drinking water contaminated with ova. In pigs, the cysticerci commonly develop in skeletal muscles, thigh, neck tongue, diaphragm, heart and other organs, including brain and eye. Intramuscular sites are the most common areas affected. A cysticercus infection (commonly referred to as measly pork) is usually only found when the meat is inspected.
How does the tapeworm harm humans?
Cysticercosis is common in communities where basic sanitary facilities are lacking and the residents consume undercooked/uncooked measly pork. Cysticercus after entering small intestine becomes active. Proscolex of cysticercus evaginates and attaches to intestinal wall. Now proliferation of neck begins to form proglottids and the bladder is digested. In 10 to 12 weeks parasite becomes adult to start its life cycle again. The presence of an adult tapeworm in the intestine may cause non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation.
If someone ingests diseased (measly) pork meat containing larva forms of this tapeworm or ingests its eggs when eating contaminated foods, the parasite finds its way to the small intestine where they become mature. From here the parasite spreads to the brain to form of cystic lesions (Neurocysticercosis), also affecting the eyes (ophthalmic-cysticercosis) and muscles or spinal cord. Neurocysticercosis is a common cause of seizures and neurologic disease. Although there may be variable presentations depending on the stage and location of cysts in the nervous system, most children (> 80%) present with seizures particularly partial seizures. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore reported diagnosis of Neurocysticercosis in 2% of an unselected series of epileptics.
What are the symptoms in humans?
* Taeniasis (a gastrointestinal infection) symptoms include diarrhea, loss of weight, malnutrition, nausea and abdominal pain.
* Ophthalmic cysticercosis (when cysticercus encysted in the eye of the host) shows edema and hemorrhaging of the retina, blurred vision and inflammation of the choroid of the eye.
* In patients with Neurocysticercosis (NCC), the most common symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, epileptic attacks, seizures, encephalitis and psychiatric manifestations.
How can you choose pork?
* Measly pork has little kernels in the fat, and is unhealthy and dangerous food.
* The flesh of stale pork is moist and clammy, and its smell betrays its condition.
* The best kind of pork is fresh and pinkish in color and the fat is firm and white.
* The second quality has rather hard, red flesh, and yellowish fat.
* The poorest kind has dark, coarse grained meat, soft fat and discolored kidneys.
Prevention & Control
* Emphasize improvement in general sanitation, health education, separation of pigs from humans, strict compliance of meat inspection and hygienic food preparation in endemic areas.
* Prevention of exposure to infected ova in the home and community is the most effective preventative measure.
* Examine stools from contacts using 3 consecutive daily specimens.
* Educate patients and their families regarding prevention.
* Mass Sensitization of the public regarding the prevention.
Article contributed by Dr Neithono Kuotsu, Assistant Professor and Dr Raghubir Singh, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Jalukie, Nagaland
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