Taeniasis and cysticercosis are diseases caused by the adult and larval stages of the cestode or tapeworm parasites Taenia saginata and Taenia solium in their definitive host (humans) and intermediate hosts (cattle, pigs, humans). Both species are meat borne parasites that localize as adults in the intestines of the human host. These intestinal infections, termed taeniasis, normally produce only mild symptoms. Eggs passed in the feces of human carriers can cause further disease if ingested by cattle, pigs, or humans. In these intermediate hosts, the egg develops to the larval (cysticercus) stage, and the disease is termed cysticercosis. The larval stage of T. saginata infects cattle, whereas T. solium larvae can infect both pigs and humans. Although larvae invade mainly skeletal muscles, T. solium larvae frequently invade the central nervous system of humans, and is, consequently, a serious public health problem. In livestock, the potential for infection necessitates continuous meat surveillance procedures and, when detected, requires either additional processing of cattle and pig carcasses at slaughter or results in their condemnation, causing a significant economic burden. Disruption of the infection at either life cycle stage effectively would eliminate the disease. The most direct control approach is improvement in sanitation and hygiene for both humans and livestock.