Question

Two multicellular parasites which may be acquired by eating raw or poorly cooked pork are ______________________________ and _______________________________. (Common names are worth half credit here.)

a) Taenia solium, Ascaris lumbricoides.
b) Trichinella spiralis, Taenia saginata.
c) Toxoplasma gondii, Enterobius vermicularis.
d) Necator americanus, Schistosoma mansoni.

Answer 1

Two multicellular parasites from raw or undercooked pork are Trichinella spiralis, causing trichinosis, and Taenia solium, leading to taeniasis. Cooking pork thoroughly prevents these infections.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two multicellular parasites which may be acquired by eating raw or poorly cooked pork are Trichinella spiralis and Taenia solium. These are commonly referred to as the agents of trichinosis and taeniasis, respectively.

Trichinella spiralis is a nematode that causes trichinosis. When someone eats undercooked or raw meat containing Trichinella larvae, the larvae mature into adult worms in the intestines. They can then migrate to the muscles and form cysts. In contrast, Taenia solium, known as the pork tapeworm, causes taeniasis. It enters humans through the ingestion of undercooked, contaminated pork. The larval stages of these tapeworms can cause cysticercosis if they migrate to muscle or brain tissue, representing a more severe disease.

It is essential to cook pork thoroughly to prevent these parasitic infections, as they can lead to serious health issues if consumed in their larval or egg form through undercooked meats.