Cysticercosis (neurocysticercosis)

BIOL 402 Janki Patel

Cysticercosis is caused by tapeworms!

Tapeworms are gross!

Two different theories explain the origin of tapeworms.

1) Domestication of animals 10,000 years ago

Two different theories explain the origin of tapeworms.

2) Scavenging of food 2 million years ago by African hominids

Three types of tapeworms infect humans.

• Taenia solium• Taenia asiatica• Taenia saginata

Taenia solium causes cysticercosis.

Pigs are intermediate hosts.

• Feces → intestine → blood vessel → muscle

Humans are final hosts.

• Feces/meat → intestine → body

A pork tapeworm cycle exists!

The symptoms of cysticercosis are harsh!

The pork tapeworm can live in an host for years without being noticed!

Cysticercosis can be diagnosed several ways.

• Travels • Eating • MRI or CT brain scans • Blood tests • Surgery

Treatment depends on each individual case.

• Anti-parasitic drugs • Anti-inflammatory drugs • Surgery

Preventive measures have been taken against this disease.

Yet, this preventable disease still infects and kills lots of people in the

world!

California had the highest percentage of fatal cysticercosis from 1990-2002!

So what do we do now?

• S3PVAC vaccine• Health education

Picture Sources • http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol3no3/evans.gif• http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neuroslides/slides/sli

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%20global%20distribution%20of%20cysticercosis.jpg• http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2

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References • http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may01/worms0501.htm• http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cysticercosis/

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• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cysticercosis