Tapeworm eggs normally enter the human host from animals via food, especially raw or undercooked meat. Humans can also become infected if there is contact with animal feces or contaminated water. When an infection is passed from an animal to a human, it is called zoonosis.
Can tapeworms be passed to humans?
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 you get tapeworms from your dog licking you?
Fleas ingest the feces and get the tapeworms in their guts. The dog then eats the infected flea by licking itself. Once the flea is digested in the dog it develops into an adult tapeworm. Humans can get a tapeworm from their dogs.
How do tapeworms spread humans?
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).
How easy is it for humans to get tapeworms?
Humans can get these worms after eating the undercooked meat of an infected animal. This includes infected pork, beef, or fish. Dogs and cats can also get tapeworms, but their infections rarely pass to humans. Oftentimes, dogs and cats get an infection after swallowing a parasite-contaminated flea.
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