Taenia saginata [teʹne-ə sajʺe-naʹta]
Johann Goeze is credited with the first correct description of Taenia [Latin, “flat band” or “ribbon”] saginata [Latin, “fed”], commonly known as the beef tapeworm, in 1782. Historically, Taenia tapeworms (Figure) were believed to have infected humans no more than 10,000 years ago, around the time of domestication of cows and pigs.
Figure.
Ad Taenia saginata tapeworm. Photo CDC/1986.
However, more recent phylogenetic evidence suggests that ancestors of modern humans, living on the savannahs of Africa and preying on antelope and other bovids, became colonized with Taenia >3 million years ago. Parasite definitive hosts switched from large carnivores (probably hyenas) to hominids through their common prey, and this process triggered the evolution of human-infecting species of Taenia. Humans later spread these parasites to domestic animals.
Footnotes
Suggested citation for this article: Etymologia: Taenia saginata. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Dec [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2312.ET2312
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