**6. Risk factors for human taeniasis and cysticercosis**

One of the risk factors is eating undercooked pork, which can contain the larvae of the tapeworms. Another risk factor is living in a household with infected pigs. Pigs can act as intermediate hosts for the tapeworms, and their meat can be contaminated with the larvae. In addition, humans can shed tapeworm eggs in their feces, which can contaminate the environment and infect both pigs and humans. The risk of infection is higher in females aged 10–39 years, although the reasons for this are not clear. It could be due to differences in dietary habits, hygiene practices, or hormonal factors. The presence of *Taenia* carriers in the household is also a risk factor. These are individuals who are infected with tapeworms and can shed their eggs in their feces, contaminating the environment and infecting others. Seropositivity for anti-cysticercus antibodies is a risk factor. This means that the person has been exposed to the tapeworm larvae and has developed an immune response against them. Seropositivity can be detected through blood tests and indicates past or current infection [20–24]. Risk factors for porcine cysticercosis include a human *Taenia* carrier existence, the absence of a latrine, a free-range backyard or roaming pigs, and a seropositive pig with a *Taenia* carrier nearby. However, human cysticercosis outbreaks have also been reported in urban areas of endemic nations. *T. solium* transmission occurs primarily in rural areas of underdeveloped nations with significant pig ownership, but human cysticercosis outbreaks have also been reported in urban areas of endemic nations [25, 26].
