Neurocysticercosis

The pork tapeworm Taenia solium causes human taeniasis and cysticercosis when ingested as viable cysts and eggs, respectively. Despite its high health burden in low-income countries, knowledge of the parasite in endemic areas such as Rwanda is often limited. Here, we assess whether The Vicious Worm education software can increase knowledge in endemic areas of Rwanda. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted to evaluate knowledge about T. solium among community health workers trained using the Vicious Worm education software...

Neurocysticercosis is a rarely diagnosed but significant clinical problem from infestation with taenia solium. It occurs as a result of ingestion of infested pork and the mode of transmission is usually feco-oral. It is commonly associated with non-specific neurologic manifestations expected of intracranial space-occupying lesions with its most common neurological presentation being seizures. However, its diagnosis without seizure is rarely reported. We report a recent experience in this regard and outcome of this disease which was inadvertently managed surgically...

Suprasellar cysticercosis is a rare entity. Only a few cases are reported in the literature.1 Clinically, present with visual loss and endocrinopathy and radiologically mimic craniopharyngioma, cystic pituitary adenoma, and Rathke cleft cyst.2 We present the case of a 34-year-old lady with a history of diminution of vision for two months. On examination, her visual acuity was 6/9 bilaterally, per the Snellen chart. The visual field showed incomplete temporal hemianopia in the right eye and a severely depressed field in the left eye...

This case demonstrates a diagnostic dilemma regarding the management of seizures in the postnatal setting. It seeks to highlight the importance of a thorough exploration of history and risk factors for females presenting with seizures in the postpartum period to ensure appropriate treatment and workup. Preeclampsia (PET) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy affecting 2%-8% of pregnancies worldwide. Less than 1% of females with preeclampsia experience eclamptic seizures. However, they are associated with significant mortality and morbidity...

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic infection of the central nervous system. Cysts located in the ventricles, intraventricular neurocysticercosis (IVNCC), can cause symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and, if untreated, can be fatal. Neuroendoscopic removal of IVNCC is recommended as the first-line treatment. OBSERVATIONS: The authors present the case of a healthy 30-year-old male originally from Mexico who presented with headaches and vomiting...

OBJECTIVE: Extraparenchymal localization of neurocysticercosis (NCC) is rare in non-endemic areas. A case of mixed (intraventricular, IV, and subarachnoid basal, SAB) NCC was surgically treated using the neuroendoscope and a systematic review of the literature was performed with the aim to analyze the use of this instrument in the management of the extraparenchymal forms of the parasitic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medline and Embase databases were searched for studies where the neuroendoscope was used for the management of IV/SAB NCC cysts, either for the cerebrospinal fluid diversion or cyst removal...

BACKGROUND: Antigen detection in Taenia solium cysticercosis confirms viable infection in the intermediate host (either pig or human). The reference B158/B60 monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based Ag-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity in human neurocysticercosis with multiple brain cysts, although its sensitivity is lower in cases with single brain cysts, whereas in porcine cysticercosis the assay specificity is affected by its frequent cross-reaction with Taenia hydatigena, another common cestode found in pigs...

Taenia solium is the aetiological agent of taeniasis/cysticercosis, one of the most severe neglected tropical diseases (NTD) according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The life cycle of T. solium alternates between pigs (intermediate host) and humans (definitive host). In addition, humans can act as accidental intermediate hosts if they ingest infective eggs. In this case, the most severe condition of the disease occurs when parasites invade the central nervous system, causing neurocysticercosis (NCC)...

AIM OF THE STUDY: Multiple ring-enhancing lesions are commonly experienced group of brain pathologies which we come across in day-to-day practice. Clinical symptoms in these lesions are quite non-specific, and hence, it is difficult to reach a final diagnosis. However, these lesions have a varied group of differential diagnosis and it is sometimes difficult to have an accurate diagnosis on conventional MRI. This article was written with the objective of discussing the demographical study and etiology, clinical diagnosis and management for these patients...

Neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection of the central nervous system (CNS), is a significant public health issue globally, including in Brazil. This article presents a case report of a 44-year-old male patient residing in the rural area of Roraima, the northernmost region of Brazil within the Amazon Forest. The patient, with chronic HIV infection, acquired the Taenia solium helminth, resulting in neurocysticercosis development. Remarkably, the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis was not initially apparent but emerged through meticulous analysis following a motorcycle accident...

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a multifactorial neurological disorder, including parasitic infections of the brain such as neurocysticercosis (NCC). People with epileptic seizures (PWES) in low and middle-income countries often do not receive appropriate treatment, which besides epileptic seizures, may also lead to reduced quality of life and possibly death. The objective of this study was to describe gaps in treatment of epileptic seizures in a Zambian rural area. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sinda district of Zambia between August and October 2018...

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common parasitic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in low- and middle-income countries. The infection is pleomorphic, caused by the larval form of the cestode, Taenia solium , and part of the heterogeneity of its clinical presentations is associated with the localization of the parasite within the CNS. Changes in the current epidemiological trends of NCC indicate that extra-parenchymal NCC is proportionally becoming more frequent. Extraparenchymal NCC is commonly accompanied by raised intracranial hypertension due to hydrocephalus, which is an emergency requiring cyst extirpation by surgical intervention to relieve the symptoms...

Disseminated cysticercosis is defined by multiple brain lesions and involvement of other body sites. Cysticidal treatment in disseminated cysticercosis is considered life-threatening. We conducted a systematic review of all published cases and case series to assess the safety and efficacy of cysticidal treatment. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42022331895) to assess the safety and efficacy of cysticidal treatment...

Taenia solium can cause human taeniasis and/or cysticercosis. The latter can in some instances cause human neurocysticercosis which is considered a priority in disease-control strategies and the prevention of mental health problems. Glutathione transferases are crucial for the establishment and long-term survival of T. solium; therefore, we structurally analyzed the 24-kDa glutathione transferase gene (Ts24gst) of T. solium and biochemically characterized its product. The gene promoter showed potential binding sites for transcription factors and xenobiotic regulatory elements...

Four cases of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with calcified cerebral toxoplasmosis associated with perilesional edema causing a single episode of neurological manifestations have recently been reported. Here, we describe the first detailed description of perilesional edema associated with calcified cerebral toxoplasmosis causing three episodes of neurological manifestations in a PLWHA, including seizures in two of them. These recurrences occurred over approximately a decade. Throughout this period, the patient showed immunological and virological control of the HIV infection, while using antiretroviral therapy regularly...

Pediatric neuroimaging presents a unique set of challenges, primarily stemming from the intricacies of normal myelination processes occurring within the initial two years of life. This complexity is particularly pronounced in the context of pediatric epilepsy, where a substantial proportion of neuroimaging cases appears normal, especially in instances of idiopathic or provoked seizures. Nevertheless, abnormalities in neuroimaging tend to manifest in cases of acute or remote symptomatic seizures. Notably, the etiological landscape of seizures in children diverges significantly from that observed in adults, with neurodevelopmental, neurometabolic, and neuro-infectious factors emerging as predominant contributors...

Introduction Infections affecting the central nervous system (CNS) can stem from various sources, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, manifesting as conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, and brain abscesses. Despite significant advancements in diagnosis and treatment, these infections continue to pose substantial risks to life. Several factors contribute to the causes of CNS infections. Demographic and geographic elements, the health status of individuals, their immune system's strength, the availability of diagnostic tools, and local prevention initiatives, all play pivotal roles...

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is considered a significant health concern in developing countries in parts of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. However, with the increased immigration, it is now becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States. NCC has psychiatric implications often neglected and not recognized in the initial diagnostic workup of patients from developing countries suffering from seizures and psychiatric illnesses, such as depression. This case report aims to signify the presentation of NCC and illustrate the importance of the psychiatric manifestations of NCC in patients...

BACKGROUND Cysticercosis is a condition caused by infection with the larval form of Taenia solium, a pork tapeworm that uses pigs as an intermediate host. Humans become infected when they ingest water or food contaminated with tapeworm cysts. Cysticercosis is increasing in frequency in developed countries due to increased access to travel. Neurocysticercosis occurs when Taenia solium cysts embed within the nervous system. The clinical presentation of neurocysticercosis ranges from asymptomatic to life-threatening, largely depending on the brain parenchymal involvement...

The aim of this study was to analyze postsurgical outcomes for individuals with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy, based on the presence of calcified neurocysticercosis (cNCC). A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 89 patients with MTLE-HS who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy between January 2012 and December 2020 at a basic epilepsy surgery center located in Lima, Peru. We collected sociodemographic, clinical, and diagnostic information...