Observations on self-induced Taenia saginata infection.

Three Cysticercus bovis cysts were ingested voluntarily and the prepatent period was found to be 84 days. Observation on the frequency of proglottid apolysis for 26 days revealed a total of 85 segments with or without faeces. Abdominal pain began one month before the prepatent period. Nausea, headache, and disturbed sleep became apparent only after the end of the prepatent period. During the segment shedding period, a 10.5% increase in eosinophilia and a 13.0% increase in lymphocytes were observed. A count of eggs in 20 gravid segments revealed an average of 89,000 eggs per segment. Treatment using praziquantel a single dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight expelled the worm including the scolex.