Taenia saginata - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Taenia saginata

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Beef tapeworm, taeniasis, Taeniarhynchus saginatus

CHARACTERISTICS: Segmented tapeworms 4-12 m in length, cestode, head (scolex) with 4 suckers for attachment; proglottids, containing a self-contained hermaphrodite reproductive unit; eggs contain a fully developed, six-hooked (hexcanth) embryo; inhabits the human jejunum

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Symptoms are variable, normally minimal; Include mild abdominal cramps, nervousness, insomnia, digestive disturbances, weight loss; passage of worms can be associated with dizziness, headache, weakness, and tingling

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; prevalent in areas where beef is improperly cooked; frequent in Yugoslavia, Moslem countries, Ethiopia and Kenya; less common in central and Latin America

HOST RANGE: Humans are definitive host; cattle are intermediate host

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Ingesting raw or improperly cooked beef, no person-to-person transmission

INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable; eggs occur in stool 10-14 weeks post infection

COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmissible from person-to-person; eggs passed from man are only infectious for cattle; eggs may continue to be shed for more than 30 years

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans, Cattle

ZOONOSIS: Cattle-to-humans via ingestion of contaminate meat

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to niclosamide, paromomycin, praziquantel, albendazole

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heat; freezing < 5° C for> 4 days kills the cystercerci; irradiating

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Eggs may remain viable in the environment for months; eggs survive most forms of sewage treatment

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by examining the stool for proglottids or eggs

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administration of the appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Stool

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion of infective eggs

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for all activities involving the infective stages; Agriculture Canada may impose additional restrictions on use or importation

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Special attention to personal hygiene practices and hand washing

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal: steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: March, 2001

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001