Experimental infection in a human subject by a possibly undescribed species of Taenia in Taiwan

Abstract

ABSTRACTA cysticercus of a possibly undescribed species of Taenia which occurs commonly in Taiwan aborigines was used to establish an experimental infection in a human volunteer. Symptomatic effects attributed to the infection included diarrhoea, upper abdominal pain, and increase or loss of appetite over a four-month period. After an expelled proglottid was observed 122 days post-exposure, eggs and proglottids were found continuously until the patient was treated with anthelmintics. Antibody titres measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and levels of eosinophilia seemed to correlate with symptoms. Haematological analyses revealed an abnormal lipid metabolism during the entire symptomatic period.