• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.190-193
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• 2011

Disseminated cysticercosis is a rare form of cysticercosis in which the cysticerci spread out through the whole body. We report the first case of a 39-year-old Mongolian with disseminated cysticercosis. He visited our hospital with generalized tonic-clonic seizure. After extensive investigation from brain computed tomography (CT), spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whole body MRI and pathologic biopsy, he was diagnosed as having cysticercosis involving the brain, subcutaneous tissue, and skeletal muscles through the whole body. We treated him with the albendazole in which case the followed MRI showed that numbers of cystic lesions were copiously decreased. We report an unsual case of disseminated cysticercosis treated with medical therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.547-550
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• 2010

Spinal cysticercosis is a very uncommon manifestation of neurocysticercosis which is caused by the larvae of Taenia solium. However, it can develop as a primary infection through blood stream or direct larval migration. It can result in high recurrence and severe neurologic morbidity if not treated appropriately. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with severe lower back pain and left leg radiating pain in recent 2 weeks. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of lumbar spine demonstrated extruded disc at the L5-S1 level combined with intradural extramedullary cystic lesion. We performed the open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) at L5-S1 on the left with total excision of cystic mass. After surgery, the patient showed an improvement of previous symptoms. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination as intradural extramedullary cysticercosis. We discuss clinical features, diagnostic screening, and treatment options of spinal cysticercosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2000

In certain Asian countries, a third form of human Taenia, also known as the Asian Taenia, has been discovered. This Asian Taenia seems to be an intermediate between Taenia solium and T. saginata since in morphological terms it is similar to T. saginata, yet biologically, as it uses the same intermediate host (pigs) , it is more akin to T. solium. Taenia solium causes human cysticercosis, while T. saginata does not. It is not known whether the Asian taeniid is able to develop to the larval stage in humans or not. The arguments proposed by those authors who consider it unlikely that the Asian Taenia causes human cysticercosis are: (a) its molecular similarities with T. saginata: (b) the absence of cases of human cysticercosis in populations where the Asian adult is highly prevalent; and (c) the unsupporting results derived from an experimental infestation study. These three arguments are debated, although bearing in mind that at present there is still no clear scientific data to support that human cysticercosis can be caused by the Asian Taenia.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.125-129
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• 2014

Several reports on taeniasis and cysticercosis in Vietnam show that they are distributed in over 50 of 63 provinces. In some endemic areas, the prevalence of taeniasis was 0.2-12.0% and that of cysticercosis was 1.0-7.2%. The major symptoms of taeniasis included fidgeted anus, proglottids moving out of the anus, and proglottids in the feces. Clinical manifestations of cysticercosis in humans included subcutaneous nodules, epileptic seizures, severe headach, impaired vision, and memory loss. The species identification of Taenia in Vietnam included Taenia asiatica, Taenia saginata, and Taenia solium based on combined morphology and molecular methods. Only T. solium caused cysticercosis in humans. Praziquantel was chosen for treatment of taeniasis and albendazole for treatment of cysticercosis. The infection rate of cysticercus cellulosae in pigs was 0.04% at Hanoi slaughterhouses, 0.03-0.31% at provincial slaughterhouses in the north, and 0.9% in provincial slaughterhouses in the southern region of Vietnam. The infection rate of cysticercus bovis in cattle was 0.03-2.17% at Hanoi slaughterhouses. Risk factors investigated with regard to transmission of Taenia suggested that consumption of raw meat (eating raw meat 4.5-74.3%), inadequate or absent meat inspection and control, poor sanitation in some endemic areas, and use of untreated human waste as a fertilizer for crops may play important roles in Vietnam, although this remains to be validated.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.67-69
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• 2005

Spinal intradural cysticercosis is a rare manifestation of neurocysticercosis that may present as an isolated lesion. We report a case of sacral intradural cysticercosis misdiagnosed as a metastasis through cerebrospinal fluid seeding in a 48-year-old patient who underwent ependymoma surgery 3 months ago. We performed S1-2 laminectomy with the total removal of intradural lesion. The cysticercosis was confirmed histologically. The patient was given albendazole with corticosteroid.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.793-795
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• 2016

Cysticercosis and sparganosis are not uncommon parasitic infections in the developing world. Central nervous system infection by both cestodes can present with neurological signs and symptoms, such as seizure and mass effect, including brain hernia. Early detection and accurate diagnosis can prevent a fatal outcome. Histological examinations of brain tissues can confirm the diagnosis of cerebral cysticercosis, which differs from sparganosis by the presence of a cavitated body. We report here a case of cerebral cysticercosis which has the similar clinical and imaging findings as sparganosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2013

Not only Taenia solium and Taenia saginata, but also Taenia asiatica infects humans. The last species is not included in the evaluation of the specificity of the immunodiagnostic techniques for taeniasis/cysticercosis. There is currently no specific immunodiagnostic method for T. asiatica available. Therefore, due to the fact that molecular techniques (the only tool to distinguish the 3 Taenia species) are normally not employed in routine diagnostic methods, the 2 questions concerning T. asiatica (its definite geographic distribution and its ability to cause human cysticercosis), remain open, turning T. asiatica into the most neglected agent of human taeniasis-cysticercosis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.429-440
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• 1989

Spirometru erinocei의 유충인 sparganum에서 추출한 조항원 단백질을 항원으로 하여 sparganosis, cysticercosis, hydatidosis환자의 IgG 항체와 정상인의 IgG 항체를 혈청반응시켜 ELISA와 EITB에 의해 교차반응을 일으키는 비 특이항원 성분과 종특이항원 성분을 추구하였다. 1. sparganum에서 0.01 M PBS (PH 7.4)로 추출한 조항원 단백질을 SDS-PAGE로 전개하여 290 Kd에서 23 Kd범위의 분자량을 가진 25개의 단백질이 분획되었다. 2. sparganum의 조항원을 항원으로하여 ELISA로 sparganosis, cysticercosis, hydatidosis 환자의 190 항체와의 혈청 반응치는 sparganosis환자에게서는 0.44 $\pm$ 0.07에서 1.90 $\pm$ 0.03으로 negative control normal sera의 0.D (0.15 $\pm$ 0.03)를 기준으로 하였을 때 모두 양성이며 민감도(sensitivity)가 100 %이었으며 cysticercosis, hydatidosis환자혈청에서 양성반응이 나타났으며 교차반응도 있었다. 3. EITB에서는 spargancsis환자의 IgG항체에 의해 16개의 항원성분이 인지되었으며 이 중 6개의 항원성분이 정상인의 혈청에서도 인지되어 교차반응을 일으키는 항원성분이었으며 cysticercosis환자혈청에서 인지된 4개의 항원성분 중 2개의 항원성분이 sparganosis 환자혈청에서 인지된 것과 같았으며 hydatidosis환자의 190항체에 의해 인지된 19개의 항원성분 중 12개의 항원성분이 sparganosis환자혈청에서 인지된 항원 성분과 같았다. 4. 290 Kd, 200 Kd, 28 Kd의 항원성분은 sparganosis환자의 196항체에서만 인지되었고 228 Kd, 152 Kd, 66 Kd항원성분은 hydatidosis환자의 19G항체에서만 인지되었으며 66 Kd항원성분은 sparganosis, cysticercosis, hydatidosis, 정상인의 혈청에서 모두 인지되었다. We studied the serological reaction between the specific and nonspecific antigenic components from metacestode (plerocercoid) of spiromeko erimacei and IgG antibodies in sparganosis, cysticercosis. hydatidosis patients and normal human sera by ELISA and EITB. We prepared the crude extracts of sparganlim from snake, Matrix tigrina laterolis and used as antigenic components. By SDS-PAGE, we detected a total 25 peptide bands (fractions) with 290 Kd to 23 Kd molecular weight, and 8 bands of these detected bands developed strongly by silver stain. In serological test, ELISA, we recognized the cross-reaction of antigenic components reacting with IgG antibodies in heterogenous sera, cysticercosis and hydatidosis patients sera. The crude antigenic components of sparganum showed the high sensitivity in sparganosis, hydatidosis patients sera, but showed lower sensitivity in cysticercosis patients sera than the sparasanosis, hydatidosis patients sera. Sixteen antigenic components of these 25 separated bands were recognized by antibodies In sparsanosis patients sera,8 antigenic components in normal human sera, 4 antigenic components in cysticercosis patients sera and 19 antigenic compoenents in hydatidosis patients sera. The crude antigenic compnenets with 290 Kd, 200 Kd, 125 Kd and 28 Kd molecular weight was only recognized in sparganosis patients sera, but 64 Kd antigenic component was nonspecific antigenic components which were also cross-reacted with sparganosis, hydatidosis, cysticercosis patients sera and normal human sera.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.226-229
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• 2014

We describe a rare case of intradural-extramedullary primary spinal cysticercosis. A 42-year-old man visited our institute for lower back pain. He denied having consumed raw meet. Magnetic resonance (MR) images revealed an intradural pure cystic mass at the L3-L4 level. A radiologic diagnosis of spinal arachnoid cyst was established. Three years later, he complained of aggravated back pain, and follow-up MR examination showed a markedly expanded cyst, occupying the subarachnoid space from the T11 to the S1 level. L2 hemilaminectomy was performed, and a yellowish infected cyst bulged out through the dural opening. The cyst was removed en bloc. The histopathological findings of the cyst were consistent with parasitic infection. Serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the presence of spinal cysticercosis. As there was no intracranial lesion, the final diagnosis was primary spinal cysticercosis, which is very rare. MR imaging is a sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting cystic lesions in the spine; however, it is difficult to distinguish cysticercosis from non-infectious cysts such as an arachnoid cyst without using gadolinium enhancement. Clinicians treating spinal cysts with an unusual clinical course should include cysticercosis as a differential diagnosis. We recommend contrast-enhanced MR imaging and serum ELISA in the diagnostic work-up of such cases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.4 s.136
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• pp.135-139
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• 2005

We have observed the seropositive rate of Taenia solium cysticercosis in residents at Nabo Village, Tiandong County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The village had been found to be a relatively high endemic area of porcine cysticercosis among roaming pigs. Of 202 persons examined four males aged 15, 25, 35 and 41 year-old exhibited absorbance (abs) at 0.18, 0.20, 0.35 and 0.55, respectively. In addition, two females whose ages were 35 and 39 years revealed specific antibody levels of abs 0.26 and 0.41 in their sera. Overall positive rate among the people was $2.97\%$. All of these persons agreed that they had ingested the pork infected with T. solium metacestode (TsM), while history of proglottid discharge was not noticed from all of them. Three males and one female complained of intermittent headache. Our findings reinforced not only that the prevalence of cysticercosis might be related with roaming pigs infected with TsM but also that behavioral and environmental practices in local community constituted risk factors for transmission of the infection.