Current status and perspectives of cysticercosis and taeniasis in Japan

Abstract

This mini-review describes recent epidemiological trends in cysticercosis and taeniasis in Japan. Some of the topics discussed herein were presented at the first symposium on "Current perspectives of Taenia asiatica researches", that was held in Osong in Chungbuk Province, South Korea, in October 2011 and organized by Prof. K. S. Eom, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine. To better understand the trends in the occurrence of cysticercosis and taeniasis in Japan, clinical cases reported in 2005 have been updated. In addition, the current status of Taenia asiatica infections successively occurring in Japan since 2010 is also discussed.

Keywords: Japan; Taenia asiatica; Taenia saginata; Taenia solium; cysticercosis; taeniasis.

Fig. 1

Imaging findings of selected cysticercosis cases. (A) plain CT image showing a solitary lesion at the left occipitoparietal area (case 48 [32], courtesy of Prof. H. Matsuoka). (B) MRI showing one of multiple cystic lesions in the left frontal and temporal lobes (case 49 [33]). (C) MRI showing a rasemose-type lesion at the basal cistern (case 50 [34], courtesy of Dr. T. Oda). (D) MRI FLAIR findings showing a giant and multilobulated mass in the subarachnoidal spaces of the right frontal lobe (case 62 [40], courtesy of Dr. S. Shiiki). (E) Cisterography showing multiple cysts in the brain (case 60, courtesy of Prof. A. Chiba). (F) X-ray findings showing typical rice grain calcifications in the muscles of buttocks and lower extremity (case 44 [27, 28], courtesy of Dr. T. Nagase). (G) CT findings showing numerous calcified cysts in muscles of the of the buttocks (case 52 [36], courtesy of Dr. M. Tsuda).

Fig. 2

Histopathologic findings of cystic lesions from cysticercosis patients. (A) A cellulose-type cysticercus characterized by rabyrinth-like structure (case 40 [22], courtesy of Dr. S. Matsunaga). (B) and (E) A resected lesion and a cellulose-type cysticercus (case 48 [32], courtesy of Prof. H. Matsuoka). (C) Racemose-type cysticercus characterized by complicated cystic walls (case 62 [40], courtesy of Dr. S. Shiiki). (D) SCC showing typical rice grain calcifications in the muscles of buttocks and lower extremity and the section of the calcified lesion (case 44 [27, 28], courtesy of Dr. T. Nagase). (F) Surgically removed calcified lesions (case 52 [36], courtesy of Dr. Tsuda). Sections (A, C , D, and E) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.