RESUMO
Neurocysticercosis is a leading cause of seizures in adults, but in paediatric patients, the diagnosis is controversial. The aim of this study was to search for antibodies to Taenia solium cysticerci in paediatric patients with seizures. We retrospectively studied a cohort of 41 serum samples from paediatric patients and 40 serum samples from healthy children. Antibodies were analysed by ELISA (vesicular fluid) and by Western blot (glycoproteins). Clinical, image and socio-demographic data were obtained from the medical records. The frequency of positive by ELISA was of 12% (n=5) in patients with seizures, while no positive samples were found in the healthy group. Results of Western blot were negatives. The analysis of the medical records showed a cyst of unknown origin in 2/5 ELISA positive samples. According to the diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis, three minor criteria (positive serology, active seizures and compatible image) were associated to an epidemiological condition (Mexico is endemic for neurocysticercosis); thus, the probable frequency of neurocysticercosis in the studied sample of patients with seizures was 4.9% (2/41 patients). The three remaining positive samples were associated with problems of noninfectious origin. The positivity was associated with the identification of cysts by magnetic resonance imaging (p = 0.047; chi-square), but found no association with the socio-economic characteristics of the patients, family history or to clinical symptoms. In conclusion, scarce frequency of antibodies to T. solium cysticerci was determined in paediatric patients with seizures. The low prevalence of antibodies detected in children is an indirect indicator of the interruption of T. solium transmission. Further studies are needed to design an algorithm for the conclusive diagnosis of seizures.
RESUMO
Effect of albendazole, metronidazole and nitazoxanide on the viability and structure of Giardia lamblia cysts isolates from infected children. The viability was evaluated by inducing excystation in a low-pH solution followed by an incubation in TYI-S culture medium. Nitazoxanide exhibited potent inhibitory effect (100%), metronidazole (79%) and albendazole (31%). The analysis among groups indicated a rs = 0.75 and p < 0.05. By TEM the cysts incubated with albendazole did not show morphological changes; with metronidazole, the formation of residual bodies in the nucleus border was observed. Incubated with nitazoxanide the damage to the cyst wall was evident, with the formation of areas with a granular content and the presence of cytoplasmic components in the peritrophic space. Our results propose that nitazoxanide showed a high effect on the viability and structure of G. lamblia cysts.