Can tapeworms infect or live in your muscles?

The tapeworm family is a big one. Cestoda vary in their lifestyles. Most tapeworms do not migrate to muscles in humans, their terminal hosts where they do their reproduction -- but some, such as the Pork Tapeworm (Taenia solium) can travel to muscles. Others can make their ways to the liver, pancreas, or brain. read more

The tapeworm family is a big one. Cestoda vary in their lifestyles. Most tapeworms do not migrate to muscles in humans, their terminal hosts where they do their reproduction -- but some, such as the Pork Tapeworm (Taenia solium) can travel to muscles. Others can make their ways to the liver, pancreas, or brain. Most stay in the intestines, however. read more

Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines of some animals. Animals can become infected with these parasites when grazing in pastures or drinking contaminated water. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals is the main cause of tapeworm infection in people. read more

Humans are infected either by ingestion of food contaminated with feces, or by autoinfection by fecal contamination again. Once eggs are ingested, they hatch into structures called oncospheres, invade the intestinal wall and eventually migrate to striated muscles, as well as the brain, liver, and other tissues, where they develop into cysticerci. read more