Cysticercus bovis and Cysticercus cellulosae: important endoparasites in the beef trade

Abstract

Cysticercosis is a zoonotic disease of major impact for both animal and public health. It is characterized by the presence of the larva of Taenia sollium or Taenia saginata, whose intermediate hosts are pigs and cattle, respectively. In both cases the man is the definitive host for the adult form of tapeworm, which is the main source of infection. The daily release of thousands of eggs in feces can infect the host with eggs and cause the development of cysticercosis and particularly of neurocysticercosis. In Brazil, despite the importance of cysticercosis on public and animal health and its economic consequences, we do not know the epidemiological reality of the zoonoses occurrence. The measures for control of taeniasis cysticercosis complex is primarily based on basic measures of hygiene and meat health inspection. These and other measures should be adopted to control this disease, since it is a major cause of condemnation of carcasses and of neurological diseases that affect man.