Tapeworms can live outside for months, waiting for a host to come along. You're most at risk if you work around livestock or travel to a country where hygiene is poor. You can also be infected if you eat or drink something that contains tapeworm eggs or larvae, like raw or undercooked beef or pork.
How long do tapeworms survive on surfaces?
The eggs can survive for months on almost any surface, including grass, carpets, bathroom floors, and bedsheets. If a live tapeworm leaves the body, it can survive for around three weeks without a host.
Can you get tapeworms from surfaces?
People can pass tapeworm eggs to others when they don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Tapeworm eggs in feces can then spread into food or onto surfaces like doorknobs.
Can tapeworms live outside dogs body?
Because of their indirect life cycle and survival strategy, tapeworm eggs are capable of surviving outside of dogs for extended periods. Adult tapeworms living in a dog's intestines release reproductive segments that exit via the anus.
Can tapeworms live on bedding?
These white parasites can be found around dog feces, in a cat's litter box or even on sofas and pet bedding. Tapeworms can look similar to little grains of rice or longer spaghetti-like segments.
Can tapeworms live on land?
Tapeworm eggs can live outside of a host and in the environment (such as in water or on plants) for days or even months. Animals may become infected after eating plants or feed or drinking water that contains tapeworm eggs. Once inside an animal host, the eggs hatch and mature into young tapeworms.
Can tapeworms live outside the intestines?
Overview. Tapeworm infection is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. If you ingest certain tapeworm eggs, they can migrate outside your intestines and form larval cysts in body tissues and organs (invasive infection).
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