Mexican Researchers Develop New Methods to Combat the Tapeworm Parasite

Mexico faces an issue with the Taenia solium parasite, known as the tapeworm, which causes taeniasis and cysticercosis. Both conditions are classified as neglected tropical diseases. The constant migration of people from communities with limited access to healthcare facilitates the persistence of the infection. During the pandemic, many of these cases were relegated from surveillance and care systems. Taeniasis develops when a person consumes pork infected with larval cysts, leading to digestive discomfort, weight loss, and abdominal pain. A more dangerous route of infection is the ingestion of the parasite's eggs due to poor hygiene, which leads to cysticercosis. In this condition, larvae can form in muscles, eyes, skin, and, in critical cases, the brain, causing neurocysticercosis—one of the main causes of acquired epilepsy in Mexico. Researchers from UNAM and other institutions are studying the parasite's detoxification system proteins, which act as biochemical shields, allowing it to resist medications. The teams have successfully determined the structural makeup of three glutathione S-transferases, paving the way for new drug development. Using molecular modeling, they have already created an inhibitor for one of these enzymes, which will help weaken the parasite's defense mechanisms and boost the efficacy of existing treatments. According to the Ministry of Health, 85 new cases were reported by week 31 of 2025, while 65 were accumulated in 2024. Key preventive measures include thoroughly cooking meat, washing hands, and periodic deworming for all household members every 6 to 12 months. These scientific advances position Mexican research as a key player in generating scientific solutions against a disease that, although less visible, remains active in the country.