Taenia solium cysticercosis

Abstract

The larval stage of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) infects the human nervous system, causing neurocysticercosis. This disease is one of the main causes of epileptic seizures in many less developed countries and is also increasingly seen in more developed countries because of immigration from endemic areas. Little information is available on the natural evolution of taeniasis or cysticercosis. Available therapeutic measures include steroids, treatments for symptoms, surgery, and, more controversially, antiparasitic drugs to kill brain parasites. Efforts to control and eliminate this disease are underway through antiparasitic treatment of endemic populations, development of pig vaccines, and other measures.

Figure 1

Life cycle of Taenia solium

Figure 2. Scolex (A) and strobila (B) of adult tapeworm

The morphology of the proglottids changes as they mature and become gravid.

Figure 3. Cysticerci

(A): as seen in infected pork. (B): excised into a Petri dish. The white dot in each cyst corresponds to the scolex.

Figure 4. Cysticercosis outside the nervous system

(A): ocular cyst floating in the vitreous humour. (B): calcified cysts on CT (three-dimensional filtered reconstruction). (C) and (D): massive infection causing muscular pseudohypertrophia; thousands of cysts following the muscle planes can be seen.

Figure 5. Macroscopic pathology

A: viable cyst. B: racemose cysticercosis in the base of the brain.

Figure 6. Neuroimaging

MRI of viable (A) and degenerating (B) cysts, and CT of calcified cysticerci (C).