Open AccessTaenia solium Cysticercosis and Its Impact in Neurological Disease
Author(s) -
Héctor H. Garcı́a,
Armando E. González,
Robert H. Gilman
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.177
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1070-6305
pISSN - 0893-8512
DOI - 10.1128/cmr.00085-19
Subject(s) - neurocysticercosis , taenia solium , cysticercosis , taeniasis , context (archaeology) , medicine , disease , neglected tropical diseases , immunology , pathology , biology , helminths , cestode infections , paleontology
Taenia solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) is endemic in most of the world and contributes significantly to the burden of epilepsy and other neurological morbidity. Also present in developed countries because of immigration and travel, NCC is one of few diseases targeted for eradication. This paper reviews all aspects of its life cycle (taeniasis, porcine cysticercosis, human cysticercosis), with a focus on recent advances in its diagnosis, management, and control. Diagnosis of taeniasis is limited by poor availability of immunological or molecular assays. Diagnosis of NCC rests on neuroimaging findings, supported by serological assays. The treatment of NCC should be approached in the context of the particular type of infection (intra- or extraparenchymal; number, location, and stage of lesions) and has evolved toward combined symptomatic and antiparasitic management, with particular attention to modulating inflammation. Research on NCC and particularly the use of recently available genome data and animal models of infection should help to elucidate mechanisms of brain inflammation, damage, and epileptogenesis.