Taeniasis and Cyticercosis Hannah Cummings, Luis L Terrazas and Abhay R. Satoskar
Abhay R. Satoskar in Medical Parasitology, 2009
Background Taeniasis and cysticercosis are diseases resulting from infection with parasitic tapeworms belonging to Taenia species. Approximately 45 species of Taenia have been identified; however, the two most commonly responsible for human infection are the pork tapeworm Taenia solium and the beef tapeworm Taenia saginata. Parasitic tapeworm infections occur worldwide, causing sickness, malnutrition and often resulting in the death of their host. Infection with adult tapeworms of either T. solium or T. saginata cause taeniasis in humans. The metacestode, or larval stage, of Taenia solium causes the tissue infection, cysticercosis. Clinical manifestations associated with the tapeworm infection can vary greatly and may range from mild forms where patients exhibit little to no symptoms, to severe life-threatening forms which are often fatal.
Neurocysticercosis
U. K. Misra, J. Kalita, R. A. Shakir in Tropical Neurology, 2003
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is defined as the infestation of the central nervous system (CNS) by the larval stage of the tapeworm— Taenia solium. It constitutes a threat to millions of people all over the world. Cysticercosis is endemic in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa and in some regions of the Far East, including the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia and China. Cysticercosis is rare in Europe, North America (with the exception of the southwestern United States), Australia and Japan; it is nonexistent in Muslim countries of Africa and Asia (Fig. I). 1 According to the WHO, more than 2 million people harbor the adult tapeworm and many more are infected with cysticerci. T. solium carriers are contagious sources of cysticercosis. Human cysticercosis must be considered a disease resulting from contagion from an infested human; therefore, the source of contagion should be investigated using the same epidemiologic approach which is customary for other infectious disease. 2 In endemic areas, NCC accounts for 10-12% of all admissions in neurology wards. Cysticercosis is a major cause of epilepsy in the developing countries, where the prevalence of active epilepsy is almost twice the prevalence in Western countries. It is estimated that 50,000 new deaths due to NCC occur every year and many surviving patients are left with irreversible brain damage. Cysticercosis is an important public health problem since most affected people are productive age. The alarming magnitude of this problem is, however, the “tip of the iceberg” since the actual prevalence of NCC is not known due to the lack of a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tests that permits a worldwide survey.
Neurocysticercosis and Epilepsy
J.M.K. Murthy in Epilepsy in the Tropics, 2006
Oscar H. Del Brutto Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is defined as the infection of the central nervous sys tem (CNS) by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia solium. The disease consti tutes a threat to millions of people all over the world, and is endemic in Central and South America, the southwestern United States, the sub-Saharan Africa, and in some regions of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, Korea, and China.1-3 Conservative figures mention that more than 2 million people harbor the adult tapeworm and that many more are infected with cysticerci.4 In endemic areas, NCC accounts for 10% to 12% of all hospital admissions to neurological services. In addition, this disease is a major cause of epilepsy in developing countries, where the prevalence of active epilepsy is almost twice the prevalence than in the developed nations.5 It is estimated that 50,000 new deaths due to NCC occur every year, and many times that number of patients survive but are left with irreversible brain dam age.4 This is an important public health problem since most people are affected in productive ages. Despite the alarming magnitude of these numbers, they are but the “tip of the iceberg” since the actual prevalence of NCC is not known due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic test that permits a worldwide survey to assess the proportions of the problem.
Historical perspective: The British contribution to the understanding of neurocysticercosis
Published in Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 2019
Gagandeep Singh, Josemir W. Sander
Neurocysticercosis, or brain infestation with the larval stage of Taenia solium, is the most common risk factor for epilepsy in many endemic regions of the world. Hardly any cases are seen in Western developed countries, including Britain. However, a sizeable number (n = 450) was seen among British soldiers returning from deputation to India, then a British colony, first reported by Col. MacArthur at the Queen Alexandria Military Hospital in 1931. Here, we review the influence of the perceptive observations of British Army medics on the understanding of the parasitic disorder. The majority of these people presented with epilepsy. Among the contributions of the army medics were establishing the diagnosis, initially by histological examination of subcutaneous and muscular infestation, and later by radiography, clarifying the prognosis and the role of medical and surgical treatments and uncovering the close relationship between the larval (cysticercosis) and adult (intestinal tapeworm) stages of T. solium.
Immunological and molecular diagnosis of cysticercosis
Published in Pathogens and Global Health, 2012
Silvia Rodriguez, Patricia Wilkins, Pierre Dorny
Cysticercosis, the infection with the larval stage of Taenia solium, is a cause of neurological symptoms including seizures, affecting the quality of life of patients and their families. Diagnosis focuses on brain imaging and serological tests are mostly used as confirmatory tools. Most cases, however, occur in poor endemic areas, where both kinds of diagnostic tools are poorly available. Development of point of care diagnostic tests is one of the most important priorities for cysticercosis researches today. The ideal point of care test would require detection of viable cysticercosis and hopefully identify cases with severe or progressive forms of neurocysticercosis, leading to referral of the patient for specialized medical attention. This manuscript describes the evolution of the serological diagnosis of cysticercosis over time, and the characteristics of the most common currently available tools, their advantages and disadvantages, and their potential use in future diagnostic tests.
Neurocysticercosis in a 2-year-old boy infected at home
Published in Pathogens and Global Health, 2012
A 2-year-old boy presented with seizures and two parenchymal brain ring-enhancing lesions. Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis was confirmed by positive serology and response to albendazole therapy. The patients's mother was a Taenia solium carrier, who had most likely infected the child through the fecal-oral route. Household contacts should always be investigated in children with neurocysticercosis. Proper identification and treatment of Taenia solium carriers will reduce the risk of further spread of the disease.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Bladder
- Cysticercosis
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- Body Cavity
- Feces