ASIAN (TAIWAN) TAENIA - SPECIES OR STRAIN

Recent studies on the epidemiological pattern of taeniasis in Southeast Asia have indicated the existence of a third form of human Taenia which is distinguishable from Taenia saginata and T. solium. Don McManus and Josephine Bowles here review how new genetic evidence supports earlier conclusions that the Asian Taenia is a distinct entity but is closely related to T. saginata, and suggests its taxonomic classification as a subspecies or strain of T. saginata is more appropriate than formal designation as a new species.