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Research Article
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Tapeworm Risks Behind an Extreme Culinary Tradition in Simalungun
A research team from the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), led by Prof. Dr. dr. Dewi Masyithah Darlan, successfully identified Raya Kahean District, Simalungun Regency, as a new endemic hotspot for Taenia asiatica tapeworm infection in North Sumatra. Through stool sample examinations of 428 residents, the study revealed a high taeniasis prevalence rate of 21.7%, with the primary risk factor being the consumption of raw or undercooked liver from domestic pigs and wild boars. Molecular confirmation using Multiplex PCR testing and phylogenetic analysis concluded that the circulating parasite is an ancient hybrid descendant of T. asiatica and T. saginata. These findings highlight the urgent need for sanitation interventions, public education on safe food practices, and mass treatment programs by local health authorities to prevent further transmission.
03 June 2026