An unsettling X-ray of a tapeworm-infested body has been shared on social media by Sam Ghali from the University of Florida, who described it as one of the “most insane X-rays” he’s ever seen. The image illustrates the condition known as cysticercosis, caused by the larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium. This parasitic infection can occur when a person consumes undercooked or contaminated pork, though it is not the pork itself but the tapeworm eggs in the food or water that cause the infection.

The larvae hatch from the eggs and move through the intestinal wall to other body tissues, like muscles, eyes, or even the brain, where cysts develop. These cysts can cause a variety of problems depending on where they lodge. If the cysts are confined to muscles or the pelvis, they may not be life-threatening. However, if they move to the brain, they can lead to severe neurological issues, including headaches, confusion, seizures, or even death.

Ghali speculates the individual in the X-ray may have contracted cysticercosis through consuming raw or undercooked pork, although the CDC clarifies that cysticercosis is caused by consuming tapeworm eggs, not by eating undercooked pork directly. This unsettling condition serves as a stark reminder of the importance of food safety in preventing parasitic infections.