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. 2025 Apr;20(5):383-389.
doi: 10.1080/17460913.2025.2472594. Epub 2025 Mar 4.

Repair capacity of Taenia solium extraparenchymal cysts: radiological and in vitro evidence

Andrea Toledo  1 , Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho  2 , Marco A Gaona Corona  3 , Diana Sierra León  3 , Obet Jair Canela Calderon  4 , Marco Antônio Zanini  2 , Roger Carrillo Mezo  5 , Agnès Fleury  3   6
Affiliations

Repair capacity of Taenia solium extraparenchymal cysts: radiological and in vitro evidence

Andrea Toledo et al. Future Microbiol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis (EP-NC) responds poorly to anthelmintic treatment. Several factors are involved in this low responsiveness, including the host's heterogeneous immune response and the ability of the parasite to evade it. In this study, we present radiological and in vitro findings that demonstrate that Taenia solium cysts have the capacity to repair from injuries. Six patients (three with cases of subarachnoid, two with cases of intraventricular, and one with a case of mixed subarachnoid and intraventricular cysts) presented with neurological complaints and underwent either medical or surgical treatment. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed apparent resolution of the cysts. However, months later (10-56) new MRI scans revealed cysts at the same sites observed before treatment. Cysts surgically removed were maintained in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Monthly assessments demonstrated the growth of the parasites and the release of HP-10. Our findings demonstrate the ability of T. solium extraparenchymal cysts to grow and repair themselves. This capacity is likely another factor involved in the disease's poor treatment response.

Keywords: Neurocysticercosis; Taenia solium; extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis; in vitro tests; magnetic resonance imaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
MRI images from patients (#1 to #4) with subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (NC) at initial presentation (a) Arrows point the cysts), after treatment (b) and at relapse (c).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Photographic records of the two parasites (a and b) throughout the observational period. Bar scale: 10 mm.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of patients (#1 to #4) with ventricular NC at initial presentation (a) Arrows point the cysts), after treatment (b) and at relapse (c).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Parasite-specific antigen (HP10) concentrations in the medium during each month of observation for each parasite. Ctrl, control.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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