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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Cysticercosis of the central nervous system. II. Spinal cysticercosis.

The compromising of the spinal canal by cysticercus is considered infrequent, varying from 16 to 20% in relation to the brain involvement. In the spinal canal the cysticercus predominantly places in the subarachnoid space. Clinical signs in spinal cysticercosis can be caused by direct compression of the spinal cord/roots by cysticerci and by local or at distance inflammatory reactions (arachnoiditis). Another mechanism of lesion is degeneration of the spinal cord due to pachymeningitis or circulatory insufficiency. The most frequent clinical features are signs of spinal cord and/or cauda equina compression. The diagnosis of spinal cysticercosis is based on evidence of cerebral cysticercosis and on neuroradiological examinations (myelography and myelo-CT) that show signs of arachnoiditis and images of cysts in the subarachnoid space and sometimes, signs of intramedullary lesions, but the confirmation can only be made through immunological reactions in the CSF or during surgery. The clinical course of 10 patients with diagnosis of spinal cysticercosis observed among 182 patients submitted to surgical treatment due to this disease are analyzed. The clinical pictures in all cases were signs of spinal cord or roots compression. All but two presented previously signs of brain cysticercosis. Neuroradiological examinations showed signs of arachnoiditis in 4 patients, images of cysts in the subarachnoid space in 5, and signs of arachnoiditis and images of cysts in one. The 6 patients that presented intraspinal cysts were submitted to exeresis of the cysts and 2 patients with total blockage of the spinal canal underwent surgery for diagnosis. The 2 remaining patients with arachnoiditis and blockage of the spinal canal were clinically treated. All of the six patients submitted to cyst exeresis had initial improvement but 4 of them later developed arachnoiditis and recurrence of the clinical signs and only 2 remained well for long-term. The 2 non operated patients had no improvement of their clinical signs. Two patients died later due to complications of cerebral cysticercosis. Based on the experience acquired in the management of these patients we indicate surgical treatment for patients that present free cyst in subarachnoid space. For those who present arachnoiditis, surgery is indicated only when there is doubt in the diagnosis. Intramedullary cysts should also be surgically treated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Immunodiagnosis of human cysticercosis (Taenia solium): a field comparison of an antibody-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), an antigen-ELISA, and an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay in Peru. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru (CWG).

We compared results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay for the diagnosis of cysticercosis in sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Sera from 34 patients with confirmed cysticercosis were tested by both ELISA and EITB assays. Cerebrospinal fluid from some of these patients was also tested by ELISA for the presence of antibody (AB-ELISA) (n = 21) and antigen (AG-ELISA) (n = 15). Specificity in sera was examined by testing 51 serum samples from Bangladesh, where cysticercosis is not endemic. Cross-reactivity was evaluated in sera from patients with Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid) and Hymenolepis nana infections. Sensitivity in detecting cysticercosis in sera was 94% by EITB and 65% by AB-ELISA (P less than 0.01). Sensitivities in the CSF tested by EITB, AB-ELISA, and AG-ELISA were 86%, 62%, and 67%, respectively. The specificity of the EITB was 100%, while that of AB-ELISA was 63% (P less than 0.01). Cross-reactions occurred in the AB-ELISA with 11% and 20% of sera from hydatid and H. nana patients, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the EITB is the best assay available for the diagnosis of cysticercosis in both sera and CSF.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Immunotherapy for porcine cysticercosis: implications for prevention of human disease. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is an important cause of human disease in many developing countries. Porcine cysticercosis is a vital link in the transmission of this disease and impairs meat production. A treatment for porcine cysticercosis may be an effective way of preventing human disease that would also benefit pig farmers, facilitating control programs in disease-endemic regions. Previous research suggests that reinfection with cysticercosis or immunotherapy with cysticercal antigens may cause degeneration of cysticerci, potentially curing porcine cysticercosis. Therefore, a blinded, randomized, controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in 28 naturally parasitized pigs was performed. Four groups of pigs with similar weights were inoculated twice with membrane-enriched cysticercal antigens (MA), saline, aqueous-soluble crude cysticercal antigens (AA) in adjuvant (Freund's complete then incomplete), or adjuvant alone. Immunotherapy was well tolerated but had no consistent effect on the macroscopic appearance of cysticerci or eosinophil count. Histopathologic findings were variable, with both severe and minimal inflammatory reactions seen in adjacent cysticerci in all pigs. Nine (64%) of 14 pigs given immunotherapy developed new antibody bands on electroimmunotransfer blot compared with one (7%) of 14 control pigs (P < 0.01). Treatment with AA in adjuvant caused a significant increase in the proportion of cysticerci that failed to evaginate and were, therefore, not viable for infecting humans (34% for pigs given AA in adjuvant compared with 10% for adjuvant alone; P < 0.04). Although immunotherapy caused a statistically significant decrease in the viability of cysticerci, this immunologic reaction was not great enough to prevent human disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Cysticercosis as a major cause of epilepsy in Peru. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru (CWG)

In countries where cysticercosis is endemic, the proportion of epilepsy due to cysticercosis is not well documented. To investigate the association between cysticercosis and epilepsy, we used the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay to detect serum antibodies to Taenia solium in 498 consecutive outpatients at a neurology clinic in Lima, Peru. Every patient was classified as epileptic (n = 189) or non-epileptic (n = 309) after neurological, and where possible electroencephalographic, examination. A substantially higher proportion of epileptic than non-epileptic patients was seropositive in the EITB (22 [12%] vs 8 [3%], p < 0.001). 19% of epileptic patients born outside Lima, 20% of those with late-onset epilepsy, and 29% of patients with both these characteristics were seropositive. Thus, in Peru, cysticercosis is an important aetiological factor for epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Towards a Taenia solium cysticercosis vaccine: an epitope shared by Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium protects mice against experimental cysticercosis.

The Taenia crassiceps recombinant antigen KETc7 has been shown to be effective as a vaccine against experimental murine cysticercosis, a laboratory model used to test potentially promising molecules against porcine Taenia solium cysticercosis. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence of this proline-rich polypeptide, three fragments, GK-1, GK-2, and GK-3, were chemically synthesized in linear form. Of the three peptides, only GK-1 induced sterile protection against T. crassiceps cysticercosis in 40 to 70% of BALB/cAnN male mice. GK-1 is an 18-amino-acid peptide which contains at least one B-cell epitope, as demonstrated by its ability to induce an antibody response to the peptide and T. crassiceps antigen without need of a carrier protein. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that anti-GK1 antibodies strongly react with the native protein in the tegument of T. crassiceps and also with anatomical structures of T. solium eggs, oncospheres, cysticercus, and tapeworm. GK-1 also contains at least one T-cell epitope, capable of stimulating the proliferation of CD8(+) and to a lower extent CD4(+) T cells primed either with the free peptide or T. crassiceps total antigen. The supernatant of the stimulated cells contained high levels of gamma interferon and low levels of interleukin-4. Similar results were obtained with T cells tested for intracellular cytokine production, an indication of the peptide's capacity to induce an inflammatory response. The remarkable protection induced by GK-1 immunization, its physicochemical properties, and its presence in all developmental stages of T. solium point to this synthetic peptide as a strong candidate in the construction of a synthetic vaccine against T. solium pig cysticercosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Distribution of hydatidosis and cysticercosis in different Peruvian populations as demonstrated by an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru (CWG).

A serosurvey for human hydatidosis and cysticercosis was performed in different regions of Peru. Those regions included a known endemic area for cystic hydatid disease, a cooperative in the central Peruvian Andes near the city of Tarma, Department of Junin; three areas endemic for cysticercosis in the Departments of Ancash, Cuzco, and San Martin, where the status of hydatid disease is not well defined; and an urban shantytown near Lima, where neither zoonosis is known to be present. A seroprevalence for hydatidosis 1.9% (6 of 309) was found with both the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) and double diffusion assays in the area endemic for hydatidosis. Seroprevalence in the other zones tested was zero using only the EITB assay. Cysticercosis seroprevalence was high in pig-raising zones but low in the high-altitude, sheep-raising areas and in the seaport of Callao. No cross-reactions between Echinococcus granulosus and cysticercosis were noted in any of the regions studied. Hydatid infection remains a major health problem in the central Peruvian Andes where sheep raising is widely practiced; however, in those regions where mainly swine are raised, human hydatid infection is not a problem.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed1991

Diagnosis of cysticercosis in endemic regions. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a frequent cause of neurological disease in developing countries. Specific diagnosis of cysticercosis is difficult. We obtained serum and/or CSF samples from 204 consecutive patients admitted to a neurological ward in Lima, Peru, and looked for antibodies specific for T solium with the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay. 21 (12%) of 173 serum samples from these patients were EITB-positive. In contrast, only 2 (1.5%) of 135 patients attending a public endoscopy clinic and 1 (1%) of 88 patients attending a private endoscopy clinic were seropositive. 1 (1%) of 98 pregnant women living in a Lima shanty town was EITB-positive. 15 (58%) of 26 neurology patients diagnosed clinically as having cysticercosis were seronegative. Routine screening by EITB of all patients with neurological symptoms from areas of endemic cysticercosis would avoid misdiagnosis of this common and treatable disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Persistence of passively transferred antibodies in porcine Taenia solium cysticercosis. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

We evaluated the presence and persistence of anticysticercal antibodies in piglets born to Taenia solium infected sows. Infected sows from a disease-endemic area of Peru were transported to a nondisease-endemic area and impregnated. Serum samples were collected from sows and piglets on Day 2 through Week 35 after birth. Using an immunoblot specific for cysticercosis, Ig isotypes to 7 cyst antigens were measured and quantified. Serum samples from the piglets contained detectable antibodies from Week 1 through Week 35 (27 weeks after weaning). The primary Ig isotype present in both sows and piglets was IgG. Antibodies did not appear in piglet serum samples until after suckling, demonstrating that anti-cysticercal antibodies are transferred solely via colostrum. Our data have shown that maternally transferred antibodies to cyst antigens may persist through much of a pig's life. Therefore, the presence of passively transferred antibodies must be considered in studies that examine the prevalence of cysticercosis in pigs. Furthermore, when designing control strategies for cysticercosis, careful evaluation and selection of sentinel pigs becomes a crucial component of sentinel selection.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Epidemiology of taeniasis and cysticercosis in a Peruvian village. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

To determine the prevalence of cysticercosis in a rural area where the disease is endemic, the authors studied the seroepidemiology of human and porcine cysticercosis in a Peruvian jungle community (Maceda, Peru) in 1988 using an enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay. Of the 371 sampled inhabitants, 30 (8%) were seropositive, most of whom were asymptomatic. After niclosamide therapy, four Taenia species worms were identified in the seropositive group, compared with one in the control group (p = 0.06). Pigs were frequently infected: 44 of 133 (33%) were found positive for Taenia by tongue examination and 57 of 133 (43%) were positive by EITB. In 69% of the sampled households that had pigs, there was at least one seropositive pig. The number of pigs diagnosed positive by the tongue examination was significantly greater in households that had latrines than in those that did not. Cysticercosis is a common but usually asymptomatic infection that affects both humans and pigs in the high jungle areas of Peru.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Cysticercosis vaccine: cross protecting immunity with T. solium antigens against experimental murine T. crassiceps cysticercosis.

Vaccination of mice with an antigen extract from Taenia solium cysticerci induced protection against challenge with T. crassiceps cysticerci as successfully as did antigen extracts from T. crassiceps. Vaccination was more effective in male than in female mice and in the resistant strain (BALB/B) more so than in the susceptible strain (BALB/c). While only the resistant strain was completely protected by vaccination, the parasite load of the susceptible strain was significantly reduced by vaccination. Cross immunity between the human and murine parasites establishes murine T. crassiceps cysticercosis as a convenient laboratory model in which to test promising T. solium antigens aimed at vaccine development against T. solium cysticercosis. Further, results point to strong interactions of the immune system with sexual and histocompatibility factors in the host's dealing with cysticercosis.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1980

Taeniasis, cysticercosis and echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Nigeria: I--prevalence of human taeniasis, cysticercosis and hydatidosis based on a retrospective analysis of hospital records.

A retrospective analysis of hospital records in 3 ecological zones of Nigeria was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of human taeniasis, cysticercosis and hydatidosis. The prevalence of Taenia infection in Sudan, Bauchi Plateau and Northern Guinea zones was 0.9%, 0.6% and 0.6%, respectively. The prevalence of human taeniasis by age and sex in the 3 ecological zones indicates that males were more often infected. Because males by habit eat more "suya" (half-grilled beef) than females, they are more likely to be exposed to Taenia saginata cysts. As for age factor, Taenia infection was more common up to the age of 40. Human hydatidosis was recorded only once in the Sudan zone and was not recorded at all in the Northern Guinea and Bauchi zones. Human cysticercosis was not documented in any of the three ecological zones covered by the survey. It is suspected that the low prevalence or the non-documentation of some of these diseases is due to poor diagnostic facilities and inefficient disease-recording system.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

Human cysticercosis: a probable case of cerebral cysticercosis with generalized subcutaneous nodular lesions.

A case is reported in Montreal of human cysticercosis in a 44-year-old man who emigrated from Italy in 1956. Numerous subcutaneous nodules were found throughout his body. X-ray of his thighs and chest showed oblong calcific densities measuring 1 x 0.5 cm in size. Examination of an excised nodule from the right biceps revealed a cysticercus larva morphologically similar to Cysticercus cellulosae although the scolex lacked hooks. On the basis of the intensity of infection, focal and generalized epileptic seizures, changes in the CSF, and well demarcated lucencies observed in brain scan, cerebral cysticercosis was considered the most likely diagnosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Cysticercosis of the central nervous system. I. Surgical treatment of cerebral cysticercosis: a 23 years experience in the Hospital das Clínicas of Ribeirão Preto Medical School.

Cysticercosis is the most frequent parasitosis of the nervous system and nowadays it is widespread through the world. Despite the development of anticysticercal drugs (praziquantel and albendazole), their efficacy is more marked in cases with parenchymal active cysts and they do not prevent complications such as hydrocephalus. Thus, many patients with neurocysticercosis require surgical intervention, generally of palliative nature, but that may occasionally produce a cure. The clinical outcome of 180 patients with cerebral cysticercosis who underwent surgical treatment form 1970 to 1993 was analyzed. Surgical treatment was performed to control increased ICP in 177 patients and due to local compression of cranial nerves or brainstem in five. Some patients had more than one surgical procedure, totalizing 287 interventions. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) was caused by hydrocephalus in 91%, by intracranial mass lesion (tumoral form) in 6.2% and by pseudotumor cerebri (pseudotumoral form) in 2.8% of the case. Based on the pathophysiological mechanisms of intracranial hypertension identified through conventional CT-scan, ventriculography, cysternotomography, ventriculotomography and MRI, different surgical approaches were indicated. Patients with tumoral form were submitted to direct approach and cyst removal and generally they had benefits from this procedure. Patients with pseudotumoral form whose clinical treatment failure underwent decompressive craniectomies and had a poor outcome (40% of good results). Direct removal of ventricular/cisternal cysts and/or ventriculoatrial/peritoneal shunting (VA/VPS) was performed in patients with hydrocephalus. Removal of free ventricular cysts in patients who had no ependimitis/arachnoiditis generally allowed a good outcome. Patients with adherent cysts and inflammatory process needed a VA/VPS posteriorly and the outcome was not so good. One hundred thirty-two patients were submitted to VA/VPS (109 as the first procedure and 23 after another surgical treatment). The VA/VPS was effective to control increased ICP, despite many complications observed mainly during the two first postoperative years. After this period the surviving patients generally had a better outcome. The patients submitted to cyst removal due to local compression of cranial nerves/brainstem generally had good results. Based on the experience acquired with the management of these patients we present our recent policy for the treatment of patients with neurocisticercosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Increased prevalence of cysticercosis and taeniasis among professional fried pork vendors and the general population of a village in the Peruvian highlands. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

Two different populations in Saylla, a Peruvian village near Cusco, known for chicharrones, a local pork dish, were surveyed by serology and stool examination to determine the prevalence and epidemiologic characteristics of Taenia solium infection. Group I (n=43), the chicharroneros, were members of families professionally devoted to the making and selling of chicharrones, and Group II (n=102) was a sample of the general population of the same village. Unlike people in Group I, general villagers only occasionally prepare or sell this food product, and then only to their neighbors or relatives. The prevalence of taeniasis was extremely high (8.6%) for the chicharroneros and 3% for the general villagers. Seroprevalence for cysticercosis by immunoblot was similarly high in both groups (23.3% and 23.8%, respectively). Being female, older than 30, and having daily contact with pork were factors strongly associated with a positive serologic result for cysticercosis in the chicharroneros, whereas males were more frequently seropositive in the general villagers group. Antibody reaction to more antigen bands in immunoblots and neurologic symptoms were more common among the chicharroneros. Also, in the general villagers group, seroprevalence increased with each exposure factor, ranging from 9.4% in individuals who did not raise pigs to 50% in the small subgroup that raised pigs, butchered their own animals, sold pork, and sold chicharrones, suggesting that these activities are related to increased risk for tapeworm or larval infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Experimental infection model for Taenia solium cysticercosis in swine. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.

A novel method for infecting pigs with Taenia solium using an intramuscular innoculum of oncospheres was investigated in a series of five experiments in 18 animals. The model is simple to perform, requires a minimal number of oncospheres, permits multiple infections per animal, and decreases the variation inherent in oral infection models. This intramuscular oncosphere assay (IMOA) may provide a valuable tool to evaluate therapeutic agents or potential vaccines for cysticercosis.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1980

Taeniasis, cysticercosis and echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Nigeria: II--prevalence of bovine and porcine cysticercosis, and hydatid disease in slaughtered food animals based on retrospective analysis of abattoir records.

A retrospective analysis of slaughterhouse records during the pre-veterinary-organized meat inspection era (before 1970) for cysticercosis and hydatidosis in food animals showed that parasitic cysts were documented but not identified and that the numbers of slaughtered animal species harbouring various parasitic cysts were not recorded. Since the various parasites which the meat inspectors observed were not identified, the prevalence of species encountered could not be determined. An analysis of abattoir records during the veterinary meat inspection era showed that Cysticercus bovis and C. cellulosae infections were documented in cattle and pigs respectively. Moreover, hydatid cysts were detected in cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and camels. The data obtained from this survey cannot be wholly relied upon as accurate, but it can be used as a baseline for the proper evaluation of the status of these zoonotic parasitic diseases in future co-ordinated researches.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed1999

Heavy nonencephalitic cerebral cysticercosis in tapeworm carriers. The Cysticercosis Working Group in Perú.

We describe 11 patients with massive brain infection with viable cysticerci, undetectable inflammatory reaction on CNS imaging, and an unexpectedly high (82%) prevalence of tapeworm infection. With the exception of two individuals with heavy parasite loads, patients had a relatively benign clinical course and tolerated the use of cysticidal drugs. This group of patients represents a particular presentation of neurocysticercosis, different from the previously described syndromes of cysticercotic encephalitis and disseminated systemic cysticercosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

The ovine cysticercosis as models for research into the epidemiology and control of the human and porcine cysticercosis Taenia solium: I. Epidemiological considerations.

A brief review is given of the transmission dynamics of the ovine cysticercoses Taenia hydatigena and T. ovis. The importance of the basic reproductive rate (Ro) and the parasite, host and socio-ecological factors determining the epidemiological steady states of Taeniidae are described. The transmission dynamics of these ovine cysticercoses have been used as models to assist in identifying the biological and epidemiological research needed for developing strategies for the control of porcine cysticercosis caused by T. solium.

Animals↗