Neurocysticercosis Jenna Sawafta Infectious Diseases in the Developing World Fall 2012
Neuro-Brain Cysticercosis is an infection due to ingestion of Taenia Solium
The most common parasitic disease of the nervous system It is also the main cause of epilepsy in developing countries
60-80% of people with the disease become epileptic
What does a brain with neurocysticercosis look like? Normal Brain Neurocysticerosis
A closer look… Brain Lesions
How is the disease transmitted?
NCC is spread by the fecal oral route
Transmission occurs when pathogens of one host are introduced to the oral cavity of another Egg Intermediate Host Definitive Host
Larval form of parasite found in intermediate host (Pig) Infection of definitive host via: Uncooked meat Contaminated meat Adult form of the parasite manifests in human Tapeworms lay new eggs in muscle tissue Development of the tapeworm in the brain
Most commonly transmitted through food contamination
Who does this affect?
2.5 million people world-wide are living with Taenia Solium
The most heavily affected countries are in Latin America
Non-endemic countries’ cases are rising because of travel to endemic regions and immigration.
How do we treat it?
The main antiparasitic drugs Praziquantal Albendazole
Clinical trials shows that Albendazole kills 60-85% of brain cysterci in 4 weeks
What are we doing about it?
Improving sanitation Modernizing swine husbandry Developing detection technology for tapeworms
Works Consulted DeGiorgio, Christopher. "Neurocysticercosis." National Center for Biotechnology. US Library of Medicine, Web. 5 Nov "Examples of Common Cestodes." SRG General Pathology. University of Cambridge, n.d. Web. 06 Nov "Neurocysticercosis: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation." RadioGraphics. Radiological Society of North America, n.d. Web. 10 Nov Zafaar, Mohammed. "Neurocysticercosis." MedScape. WebMed LLC, Web. 10 Nov < Zimmer, Carl. "Hidden Epidemic: Tapeworms Living Inside Peoples Brains." Discover Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing, Web. 08 Nov
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