Taeniasis in Indonesia with special reference to Samosir Island, north Sumatra.

In Indonesia, taeniasis is endemic on the islands of Bali, Irian Jaya and Sumatra. The Balinese eat pork or beef raw in a dish called "lawar". Natives of Irian Jaya also have a custom of preparing and consuming raw pork. On Samosir Island in North Sumatra, undercooked pork is consumed in traditional ceremonies. In Bali, the local people defecate into cages (called "teba") of domestic animals. In Irian Jaya, pigs are allowed to feed on human feces inside houses at night. The natives of Samosir Island defecate in their gardens and their feces are easily consumed by freely roaming pigs. Since 1972, studies have been carried out on the epidemiology of taeniasis in North Sumatra. The Taenia sp. found on Samosir Island is morphologically identical to Taenia saginata. However, the local people seldom or never consume beef because it is very expensive, while pork is commonly consumed. The species and the natural intermediate hosts of Taenia sp. on Samosir Island are still under investigation.