Gross and histopathological changes in heart and brain in spontaneous cases of porcine cysticercosis

Heart samples of pig infected with Taenia solium larvae (Cysticercus cellulosae) showed the presence of cysts average in size 7.3 x 6.2mm, projecting from epicardium and endocardial surface, covering almost all parts of the heart muscles. Further histological study revealed that myocardial blood vessels congestion, degeneration and vacuolation of myocardial muscles. Brain of infected pigs showed few cysts averaging 5.8 x 5.3mm in size located at the brain surface and the histopathological lesions revealed meningeo-enciphalitis, moderate to marked vascular congestion of meninges, neuronal degeneration, perivascular cuffing, neuronophagia and gliosis.