Public Health Implications of Cysticercosis Acquired in the United States

Abstract

Cysticercosis has emerged as a cause of severe neurologic disease in the United States that primarily affects immigrants from Latin America. Moreover, the relevance of cysticercosis as a public health problem has been highlighted by local transmission. We searched the biomedical literature for reports documenting cases of cysticercosis acquired in the United States. A total of 78 cases, principally neurocysticercosis, were reported from 12 states during 1954–2005. A confirmed or presumptive source of infection was identified among household members or close personal contacts of 16 (21%) case-patients. Several factors, including the severe, potentially fatal, nature of cysticercosis; its fecal–oral route of transmission; the considerable economic effect; the availability of a sensitive and specific serologic test for infection by adult Taenia solium tapeworms; and the demonstrated ability to find a probable source of infection among contacts, all provide a compelling rationale for implementation of public health control efforts.

Comparisons of brucellosis between human and veterinary medicine

“…Currently, the U.S. typically sees less than 100 reported cases per year, with most occurring in the south and southwest from illegally imported soft cheeses (unpasteurized) from Mexico [24]. However, in the U.S. true incidence has been estimated at five to 12 times greater, purely from foodborne illness [25]. Syria has been reported to have the highest incidence (1,603.4 cases per 1,000,000 individuals) of any country that report statistics to the WHO [26].…”

Comparative analysis of the miRNA profiles from Taenia solium and Taenia asiatica adult

“…In humans, the larval stage can parasitize in the central nervous system, leading to neurocysticercosis with symptom of epilepsy or even death (Garcia et al, 2005a, b). This disease causes serious public health problem (Afonso et al, 2008;Sorvillo et al, 2011).…”

The Role of Sex Steroids in the Host-Parasite Interaction

“…solium is an ancient parasite that still threatens public health and porcine husbandry in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and is re-emerging in developed countries on account of the massive human migrations of modern times (Hoberg, 2002;DeGiorgio et al, 2005;Sorvillo et al, 2011). Cysticercosis results from the ingestion of the T. solium eggs by intermediate hosts (humans and pigs, principally), to then hatch in the intestines liberating motile oncospheres that penetrate the circulation and distribute in the organism.…”