For many Australians, a succulent pork chop or a hearty slice of ham is a staple at the dinner table. But before you tuck into your next pork dish, it’s crucial to ensure it’s thoroughly cooked. The risks of consuming undercooked pork extend far beyond the immediate discomfort of food poisoning; parasitic infestations that can wreak havoc on your body and brain.
The dangers of undercooked pork were starkly highlighted by a case in Florida, where a patient, after a routine X-ray following a fall, was found to be infested with parasitic eggs that had turned into thousands of cysts throughout his body. Dr Sam Ghali, an urgent care physician from the University of Florida, shared the alarming X-ray image on social media, revealing the patient’s condition was due to eating undercooked pork contaminated with tapeworm larvae, specifically those of the taenia solium tapeworm.
When pork carrying these larvae is consumed, the parasites can invade body tissues and form cysts in a condition known as cysticercosis. The larvae can travel to various parts of the body, including muscles, liver, lungs, and kidneys, and their decay can lead to serious infections. While cysts in many tissues may go unnoticed, those in the skin or muscles can cause visible bulges.
Cysticercosis is diagnosed through imaging, blood tests, and sometimes a lumbar puncture to examine cerebrospinal fluid. However, the most alarming complication arises when the larvae cysts make their way to the brain, resulting in neurocysticercosis, a leading cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide. Initially, the parasite exists in an ‘immunologic equilibrium’ with its host, suppressing immune responses and causing minimal inflammation. Over time, however, symptoms such as severe headaches, blindness, convulsions, and epileptic seizures can occur.
The disease’s final stage sees the cysts degenerate and die, leaving behind calcified scars that can provoke an immune response, leading to further calcification and potentially contributing to long-term symptoms like seizures.
A high-profile case possibly linked to neurocysticercosis is that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who, during his 2012 divorce deposition, claimed that a worm had entered his brain, causing cognitive problems and memory loss.
To prevent such a dire outcome, it’s essential to understand how tapeworm infections occur. Taeniasis, the intestinal infection caused by an adult tapeworm, can be asymptomatic or cause mild stomach upset. Humans can contract taeniasis from three types of tapeworms: taenia saginata (from cattle), taenia solium, and taenia asiatica (both from pigs). Once inside the intestines, these tapeworms grow and release proglottids, or fertilised eggs, which are expelled in faeces and are immediately infectious.
Infection can occur not only from eating infected meat but also from drinking contaminated water or through poor hygiene practices, such as not washing hands properly after using the toilet and then preparing food.
Treatment for tapeworms includes anthelmintic drugs like praziquantel and niclosamide, which kill or paralyse the parasite, facilitating its expulsion. However, these drugs can lead to cyst calcification in some cases, exacerbating symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to treat neurocysticercosis and prevent additional calcification.
In regions where these drugs are less accessible, traditional remedies, such as a combination of pumpkin seeds and areca nuts, have been used to expel tapeworms successfully.
To safeguard against tapeworms and cysticercosis, practice basic hygiene measures like regular hand washing, and ensure vegetables are washed and peeled before consumption. And when it comes to pork, cook it to at least 80 degrees for 10 minutes to kill all tapeworm eggs. Lower temperatures can also be effective but require longer cooking times.
Ensuring food safety is crucial for protecting our health and understanding the risks associated with undercooked pork can help prevent serious infections. By following proper cooking and hygiene practices, we can reduce the likelihood of tapeworm-related illnesses and enjoy pork dishes safely.
Have you ever come across food safety concerns in your own cooking experiences? What steps do you take to ensure your meals are properly prepared? Feel free to share your thoughts and insights in the comments below.
Also read: Red meat and dementia: What the latest research suggests
