Epidemiology of Taenia saginata taeniosis/cysticercosis: a systematic review of the distribution in East, Southeast and South Asia.

BACKGROUND: Taenia saginata is an important zoonotic parasite, causing taeniosis in humans and cysticercosis in bovines, the latter being a significant concern for the global beef industry. Many countries in East, Southeast and South Asia are experiencing rapid economic growth, and an increasing number of people in these countries are dependent on the livestock industry. Currently, however, an overview of the prevalence of T. saginata in this region is lacking. In this review, we analysed the available literature on T. saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis for East, Southeast and South Asia. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted, based on both published and grey literature. Articles published between 1990 and 2017 were mined for information on the occurrence, prevalence, and geographical distribution of T. saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis in East, Southeast and South Asia. RESULTS: The presence of T. saginata was described in 15 of 27 countries of the region, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The only country that reported an absence of T. saginata is Japan, although sporadic reports of imported cases and unconfirmed reports of autochthonous infections were identified. Nationwide surveys of taeniosis with systematic sample collection and high sample numbers were available for Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, and South Korea, although speciation of Taenia was not always performed. Regional prevalence of taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis in endemic regions ranged between 0.02-42.6%, and 0.76-46.7%, respectively. However, data for bovine cysticercosis were only available for five countries (Japan, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Pakistan and Vietnam). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate a widespread occurrence of T. saginata throughout East, Southeast and South Asia. Identification of Taenia spp. in human infections was frequently not performed, leading to gaps in knowledge about the distribution of human tapeworm infections, mainly in regions where different human Taenia species co-occur. A high prevalence of T. saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis may reflect insufficiencies in sanitation, limited health education standards, and insufficient food safety measures. Therefore, there is a need to improve local surveillance, notification, and overall control systems.

Macrophage galactose-type C-type lectins as novel markers for alternatively activated macrophages elicited by parasitic infections and allergic airway inflammation.

Molecular markers, especially surface markers associated with type II, cytokine-dependent, alternatively activated macrophages (aaMF), remain scarce. Besides the earlier documented markers, macrophage mannose receptor and arginase 1, we demonstrated recently that murine aaMF are characterized by increased expression of found in inflammatory zone 1 (FIZZ1) and the secretory lectin Ym. We now document that expression of the two members of the mouse macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin gene family (mMGL1 and mMGL2) is induced in diverse populations of aaMF, including peritoneal macrophages elicited during infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei brucei or the Helminth Taenia crassiceps and alveolar macrophages elicited in a mouse model of allergic asthma. In addition, we demonstrate that in vitro, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 up-regulate mMGL1 and mMGL2 expression and that in vivo, induction of mMGL1 and mMGL2 is dependent on IL-4 receptor signaling. Moreover, we show that expression of MGL on human monocytes is also up-regulated by IL-4. Hence, macrophage galactose-type C-type lectins represent novel surface markers for murine and human aaMF.

Cysticercosis/taeniasis in Asia and the Pacific.

Three taeniid tapeworms infect humans in Asia and the Pacific: Taenia solim, Taenia saginata, and Taenia asiatica. Although there is continuing debate about the definition of a new species, phylogenetic analyses of these parasites have provided multiple lines of evidence that T. asiatica is an independent species and the sister species of T. saginata. Here we review briefly the morphology, pathology, molecular biology, distribution and control options of taeniasis/cysticercosis in Asia and the Pacific and comment on the potential role which dogs may play in the transmission of T. solium. Special attention is focused on Indonesia: taeniasis caused by T. asiatica in North Sumatra, taeniasis/cysticercosis of T. solium and taeniasis of T. saginata in Bali, and taeniasis/cysticercosis of T. solium in Papua (formerly Irian Jaya). Issues relating to the spread of taeniasis/cysticercosis caused by T. solium in Papua New Guinea are highlighted, since serological evidence suggests that cysticercosis occurs among the local residents. The use of modern techniques for detection of taeniasis in humans and cysticercosis in humans, pigs and dogs, with the possible adoption of new control measures will provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of taeniasis/cysticercosis in Asia and the Pacific and lead to improved control of zoonotic and simultaneously meat-borne disease transmission.

Uso da seqüência FLAIR na avaliação por ressonância magnética da neurocisticercose / Use of the sequence FLAIR in the evaluation for magnetic resonance of the neurocysticercosis

A neurocisticercose (NC) é a doença parasitária mais comum do SNC, ocasionada pela forma larvária do verme Taenia solium. Apresenta alta prevalência no mundo. A ressonância magnética (RM) tem participação fundamental no diagnóstico da doença. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar à participação da seqüência FLAIR em casos de NC, comparando seus resultados com o das demais seqüências de RM. Foram avaliados exames de 115 pacientes de maio de 2000 a março de 2003. FLAIR demonstrou: o maior número de casos onde foi caracterizado o escólex, assim como o maior número total deste tipo de componente do parasita. Predominaram lesões em situação parenquimatosa cerebral e supratentoriais. Nos estágios da forma larval; houve associação de pelo menos dois estágios em 65,2 por cento e dos quatro estágios em 31,3 por cento dos casos.The neurocisticercosys (NC) is the parasitic disease more frequent of the central nervous system (SNC), for the form larval stage of the Taenia solium. It represents one of the great problems of public health in the world.The objectives of this study went evaluate to usefulness of the use of the sequence FLAIR, in the diagnosis of this disease, to compare the main discoveries with the one of the other sequences of RM. Were appraised exams of 115 patients since may 2000 to march 2003. FLAIR went the one that it allowed to detection of the largest number of patients and lesions with scólex. The parenchymal form and supratentorial topography were to more found in this series. With relationship to the evolutionary apprenticeship in the larval way there was association of at least two apprenticeships in 65,2 per cent and the four among 31,3 per cent of the cases...

Binge eating disorder onset by unusual parasitic intestinal disease: a case-report.

We report a case of binge eating disorder (BED) in a 19-year-old Spanish woman, whose onset followed a nowadays uncommon parasitic intestinal disease (Taenia solium by cysticercosis). The patient exhibited bizarre and frequent hyperphagia episodes and extreme loss of weight, common symptoms of this condition. The patient continued to have frequent binge episodes and inappropriate eating patterns, gaining weight consequently over a normal range, despite successful treatment of the condition. No purging behavior was detected. A classical conditioning behavioral model, was useful for the understanding and formulation of this case. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case where a parasitic infestation triggered the onset of BED.

Post-panning computer-aided analysis of phagotope collections selected with neurocysticercosis patient polyclonal antibodies: separation of disease-relevant and irrelevant peptide sequences.

The homology of peptide sequences selected from a 7mer phage display library with antibodies elicited by the multicelled parasite Taenia solium in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of neurocysticercosis (NCC) patients and by antibodies of uninfected control patients with similar neurological complications of other ethiology (non-NCC) were analyzed using a PILEUP-Tudos sequence alignments program. The analysis generated dendrograms bearing two types of sequence clusters, those containing (1) only NCC patients-derived peptides and (2) both NCC- and control non-CC -- patient derivatives. By using ELISA, peptides that were selected by the antibodies were identified predominantly in the NCC-derived clusters. In repeated analysis in which sequences were added or removed, the first type of clusters maintained their structure, while the second type of clusters were split into many separate homology units dispersed throughout the guide tree. These results are interpreted as the ability of the analysis to segregate NCC-specific peptide sequences from other sequences. Altogether, this study demonstrates the high potential of the PILEUP-Tudos computer program to analyze phagotope collections recovered through biopanning with polyclonal antibodies elicited in patients by complex and as yet unknown multiple pathogenic antigens and to separate all phagotopes that are disease-relevant on the basis of the sequence homology.

Unidentified parasitic cysts in cattle.

Between February 18, 1995, and July 1, 1996, 38 cysts derived from New Zealand cattle were subjected to a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) designed to identify genomic Taenia saginata DNA. No Tsaginata DNA was identified but an amplification product of 1078 bp was obtained consistently from several of the cysts. In Switzerland, suspect Tsaginata cysts are commonly positive for Tsaginata by PCR, but recently three cysts have also given a PCR fragment of 1078 bp, originating from a putatively unknown Taenia species.

Epidemiologia da teníase/cisticercose por Taenia solium e Taenia saginata / Epidemiology of teniasis/cysticercosis by Taenia solium and Taenia saginata

No presente artigo, os autores fazem uma revisäo dos aspectos epidemiológicos da teníase e cisticercose. A cisticercose é produzida pelo desenvolvimento da forma larval da Taenia, o Cysticercus, nos tecidos, sendo transmitida pela ingestäo de ovos de Taenia. A cisticercose humana e animal säo consideradas um grande problema sócio-econônico em muitos países. É considerada uma zoonose endêmica, estando distribuída nos países em desenvolvimento, especialmente nas áreas rurais. A invasäo da larva no sistema nervoso central em humanos constitui uma séria complicaçäo. A cisticercose é um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública dos países em desenvolvimento e a neurocisticercose é considerada a doença parasitária mais comum do sistema nervoso humano. A conservaçäo da carne em temperatura inferior a -15§ durante seis dias, sua cocçäo adequada, além da inspeçäo sanitária das carnes e o diagnóstico e tratamento da teníase humana em áreas endêmicas constituem as principais medidas de controle.

Nuevas fracciones antigénicas para el inmunodiagnóstico de la neurocisticercosis / New antigenic fractions for neurocysticercosis diagnosis

La neurocisticercosis (NCC) es la enfermedad parasitaria más frecuente del sistema nervioso central causada por la forma larvaria enquistada de la Taenia solium, su diagnóstico se basa en la integración de datos clínicos imagenológicos y serológicos. La detección de anticuerpos específicos usando el ensayo inmunoenzimático (ELISA) es una útil estrategia para confirmar el diagnóstico de la NCC. Estudios previos demuestran que la Taenia crassiceps y la Taenia solium tienen similitud estructural y antigénica; en este trabajo evaluamos antígenos de ambos parásitos frente a 68 líquidos cefalorraquídeos y 40 sueros pertenecientes a casos confirmados de NCC y a controles. Para cumplir tal objetivo enfrentamos en ELISA las muestras de los pacientes contra cada uno de tres extractos antigénicos de cada tenideo: el fluido vesicular, la membrana externa y el extracto total. El análisis estadístico demostró una alta sensibilidad y especificidad de los antígenos de la T.crassiceps, especialmente el fluido vesicular; el cual dio una sensibilidad de 90,3 por ciento, una especificidad de 94,5 por ciento y valores predictivos positivos y negativos de 93,3 por ciento y 92,1 por ciento frente a los LCR. Estos atributos hacen de esta fracción parasitaria una herramienta de gran utilidad en el diagnóstico de la NCC, pudiendo sustituir los antígenos procedentes de carcasas de cerdos infectados naturalmente con T.solinum

Impairment of the inflammatory reaction on implanted Taenia solium metacestodes in mice by a T. solium RNA-peptide: a scanning electron microscopy study.

Inhibition of inflammation by a Taenia solium RNA-peptide (metacestode factor, MF) was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Viable (96%) T. solium metacestodes obtained from a naturally infected pig were dissected and implanted in treated and control mice, removed at 6 and 12 days postimplantation (p.i.), and studied by SEM. At day 6, metacestodes in control mice showed vigorous inflammation, whereas in mice treated with MF they were apparently intact with exiguous inflammation. Mice immunized with T. solium metacestode antigens showed a moderate inflammation; those treated with both MF and T. solium antigens presented scanty inflammation. At day 12, metacestodes presented copious inflammation and severe damage to the sucker tissues in mice immunized with T. solium; in mice treated with either MF or MF and T. solium antigens there was only discrete inflammation. These observations illustrate the central role of MF in the inhibition of the early events leading to the parasite's destruction by means of an inflammatory response.

Treatment of porcine cysticercosis with oxfendazole: a dose-response trial.

Taenia solium cysticercosis is an important public health problem in developing countries. Oxfendazole has been shown to be highly effective against porcine cysticercosis, when given as a single dose at 30 mg/kg bodyweight. This dose, however, was estimated from experience with albendazole. A controlled dose-response trial was therefore undertaken to determine the efficacy and safety of three concentrations of oxfendazole. Twenty-four naturally parasitised pigs were divided into four groups and treated with oxfendazole at 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg, or left untreated. Eight to 10 weeks later the pigs were killed and the viability of the parasites assessed by evagination. No side-effects of oxfendazole treatment were observed. In the control group more than 90 per cent of the cysts were viable. Viable cysts were found in the muscle and brain of the pigs treated with 10 or 20 mg/kg oxfendazole. At 30 mg/kg there were no viable cysts in any of the tissues examined, indicating that this concentration of oxfendazole provided an effective treatment against porcine cysticercosis.

Comparación de la reacción inflamatoria causada por el metacestodo de T. solium en músculos y encéfalos de cerdos / Comparison of the inflammatory reaction caused by the metacestode of Taenia solium in brains and muscles of pigs

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la reacción inflamatoria que causan los metacestodos de T. solium en tejidos muscular y nervioso de cerdos. Se estudiaron músculos y encéfalos parasitados de cerdos, inoculadoss con huevos de parásito adulto y sacrificados a los 70 y 210 días posinoculación. Los resultados demuestran que las larvas alojadas en el tejido muscular causan una respuesta inflmatoria más severa que las localizadas en el encéfalo. El análisis estadístico Kruskal-Wallis y Quade de los resultados, indican una diferencia altamente significativa (p=3.8 E-0.8) con lesiones más acentudas en el tejido muscular

Alguns comentários sobre a história da cisticercose e dos seus transtornos neuropsiquiátricos / Some comments on the history of cysticercosis and its neuropsychiatric disorders

A história da aquisiçäo do conhecimento médico sobre a cisticercose (infestaçäo por formas larvárias da Taenia solium) é revista, com ênfase nos problemas psico-sociais e nos transtornos neuropsiquiátricos.

Neurocysticercosis: neurologic, pathogenic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Worldwide neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the human brain and meninges. Clinical features of the illness vary with the stage of ova infection, but most problems arise when the mature cyst degenerates. Seizures, increased intracranial pressure, and focal neurologic signs then often develop. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance usually demonstrate Cysticercus cellulosae cysts in the brain. A new immunoblot test for antibodies to the cysticercus seems both sensitive and specific. Treatment with praziquantel or albendazole has hastened the disappearance of the cysts on computed tomography and improved clinical symptoms.