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Serological screening for cysticercosis in mentally altered individuals
Author(s) -
Sanzón Fernando,
Osorio Ana M.,
Morales José P.,
Isaza Rodrigo,
Cardona Edgar,
Moncayo Luis C.,
Villota Guido E.,
Zapata Olga T.,
Palacio Carlos A.,
Arbeláez María P.,
Restrepo Blanca I.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2002.00886.x
Subject(s) - neurocysticercosis , taenia solium , cysticercosis , serology , medicine , odds ratio , psychiatry , helminthiasis , disease , immunology , pathology , antibody
The parasitic infection neurocysticercosis may give rise to a variety of psychiatric manifestations that resemble, but are different from, primary psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to determine if among individuals from a neurocysticercosis‐endemic area of Colombia who apparently had a psychiatric manifestation with associated neurological finding (`cases'), some could have been infected with Taenia solium cysticerci. This case–control study was done in individuals hospitalized in two mental institutions. The control‐1 individuals were those classified with primary psychiatric disease, and the control‐2 group consisted of healthy, non‐hospitalized individuals. A serological test for cysticercosis was positive in 5/96 (5.1%) cases, 4/153 (2.6%) psychiatric controls, and 5/246 (2%) healthy controls. The data analysis indicated a weak association between the cases and a positive serology for neurocysticercosis (odds ratio > 2; P > 0.05). The lower education level of the cases influenced this association.