Concordance between a New Rapid Point-Of-Care Assay and Standard ELISA in the Detection of Cysticercosis Antigens in Urine.

Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic disease of major public health importance. Definitive diagnosis requires neuroimaging, which is typically unavailable in rural impoverished regions of endemicity. Screening immunoassays can support diagnosis in this setting by identifying individuals most likely to have severe forms of disease for referral to imaging. Urine sampling is convenient, painless, and generally well accepted. We developed a rapid point-of-care (POC) assay to detect urinary antigens and assessed concordance with a standard antigen ELISA (Ag-ELISA), both using monoclonal antibodies TsW8/TsW5. From 28,145 stored community samples with Ag-ELISA results, we selected 843 for comparison, 281 each from nonreactive (ratio <1), reactive-below-cutoff (ratio 1:3), and positive (ratio ≥3) samples. Overall agreement was 73.6%, with strong agreement observed in the nonreactive (280/281, 99.6%) and positive (255/281, 90.8%) groups. This affordable noninvasive POC test can be applied to identify individuals in the community most at risk of developing severe disease.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes in neurocysticercosis.

BACKGROUND: Arteritis is a complication of neurocysticercosis (NCC), which is not well known and could trigger strokes. The transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is a noninvasive method for detecting, staging, and monitoring cerebrovascular diseases. Nonetheless, the utility of TCD to evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes, suggesting vasculitis associated with NCC remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes using TCD in patients with subarachnoid and parenchymal NCC. METHODS: There were 53 patients with NCC evaluated at a reference hospital for neurological diseases included (29 with subarachnoid and 24 with parenchymal). Participants underwent a clinical interview and serology for cysticercosis and underwent TCD performed within 2 weeks of enrollment. Mean flow velocity, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and pulsatility index were recorded. RESULTS: Among the participants, there were 23 (43.4%) women, with a median age of 37 years (IQR: 29-48). Cerebral hemodynamic changes suggesting vasculitis were detected in 12 patients (22.64%); the most compromised vessel was the middle cerebral artery in 11 (91.67%) patients. There were more females in the group with sonographic signs of vasculitis (10/12, 83.33% vs. 13/41, 31.71%; p = 0.002), and this was more frequent in the subarachnoid NCC group (9/29, 31.03% vs. 3/24, 12.5%; p = 0.187), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Cerebral hemodynamic changes suggestive of vasculitis are frequent in patients with NCC and can be evaluated using TCD.

ANTECEDENTES: La arteritis es una complicación de la neurocisticercosis (NCC), que no siempre se conoce y podría desencadenar enfermedad cerebrovascular. La ultrasonografía Doppler transcraneal (DTC) es un método no invasivo que sirve para detectar y monitorizar enfermedades cerebrovasculares. No obstante, la utilidad de la DTC para evaluar los cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales que sugieren vasculitis asociada a NCC sigue siendo incierta. OBJETIVO: Evaluar los cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales utilizando DTC en pacientes con NCC subaracnoidea y parenquimal. MéTODOS: Se incluyeron 53 pacientes con NCC (29 con subaracnoidea y 24 con parenquimal) evaluados en un hospital de referencia para enfermedades neurológicas. Los participantes se sometieron a una entrevista clínica y serología para cisticercosis y a una DTC realizada dentro de las 2 semanas posteriores a la inscripción. Se registraron la velocidad media del flujo, la velocidad sistólica máxima, la velocidad diastólica final y el índice de pulsatilidad. RESULTADOS: Los participantes incluyeron 23 (43,4%) mujeres con una mediana de edad de 37 años (rango intercuartílico [RIC]: 29­48). Se detectaron cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales sugestivos de vasculitis en 12 pacientes (22,64%); el vaso más comprometido fue la arteria cerebral media, en 11 (91,67%) pacientes. Hubo más mujeres en el grupo con signos ecográficos de vasculitis (10/12, 83,33% versus 13/41, 31,71%; p = 0,002), y esto fue más frecuente en el grupo de NCC subaracnoidea (9/29, 31,03% versus 3/24, 12,5%; p = 0,187), aunque esta diferencia no alcanzó significancia estadística. CONCLUSIóN: Los cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales sugestivos de vasculitis son frecuentes en pacientes con NCC y pueden evaluarse mediante DTC.

Transcriptomic analysis of subarachnoid cysts of Taenia solium reveals mechanisms for uncontrolled proliferation and adaptations to the microenvironment.

Subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (SANCC) is caused by an abnormally transformed form of the metacestode or larval form of the tapeworm Taenia solium. In contrast to vesicular parenchymal and ventricular located cysts that contain a viable scolex and are anlage of the adult tapeworm, the subarachnoid cyst proliferates to form aberrant membranous cystic masses within the subarachnoid spaces that cause mass effects and acute and chronic arachnoiditis. How subarachnoid cyst proliferates and interacts with the human host is poorly understood, but parasite stem cells (germinative cells) likely participate. RNA-seq analysis of the subarachnoid cyst bladder wall compared to the bladder wall and scolex of the vesicular cyst revealed that the subarachnoid form exhibits activation of signaling pathways that promote proliferation and increased lipid metabolism. These adaptions allow growth in a nutrient-limited cerebral spinal fluid. In addition, we identified therapeutic drug targets that would inhibit growth of the parasite, potentially increase effectiveness of treatment, and shorten its duration.

Concordance between two monoclonal antibody-based antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for measuring cysticercal antigen levels in sera from pigs experimentally infected with Taenia solium and Taenia hydatigena.

BACKGROUND: Antigen detection in Taenia solium cysticercosis confirms viable infection in the intermediate host (either pig or human). The reference B158/B60 monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based Ag-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity in human neurocysticercosis with multiple brain cysts, although its sensitivity is lower in cases with single brain cysts, whereas in porcine cysticercosis the assay specificity is affected by its frequent cross-reaction with Taenia hydatigena, another common cestode found in pigs. Our group has produced 21 anti-T. solium mAbs reacting against antigens of the whole cyst, vesicular fluid, and secretory/excretory products, identifying TsW8/TsW5 as the most promising pair of mAbs for an Ag-ELISA. METHODS: We report the use of the TsW8/TsW5 Ag-ELISA to measure cysticercus antigen levels [expressed as optical density (OD) values] in two panels of sera collected from day 0 (baseline) to day 90 postinfection (PI) from pigs experimentally infected with T. solium (n = 26) and T. hydatigena (n = 12). At baseline and on days 28 and 90 PI, we used Bland-Altman (BA) analysis and Lin's concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) to determine the concordance between the TsW8/TsW5 and the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. RESULTS: The TsW8/TsW5 Ag-ELISA was able to efficiently measure circulating antigen levels in T. solium-infected pigs, similar to that obtained with the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. Almost all paired log-OD differences between assays were within the limits of agreement (LoA) in the BA analysis at baseline and on days 28 and 90 PI (92.3%, 100%, and 100%, respectively), and a high concordance of log-ODs between assays was also found (Lin's CCC: 0.69, 0.92, and 0.96, respectively, all P < 0.001). In pigs infected with T. hydatigena, almost all paired log-OD differences were within the LoA in the BA analysis, whereas the concordance of log-ODs between assays was low at baseline (Lin's CCC: 0.24) but increased on days 28 and 90 PI (Lins' CCC: 0.88 and 0.98, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The TsW8/TsW5 Ag-ELISA recognizes antigens in pigs with T. solium cysticercosis and is highly concordant with the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA. However, its diagnostic use is hampered by cross-reactions with T. hydatigena, as in other mAb-based Ag-ELISAs.

Increased Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus in Patients with Neurocysticercosis.

We explored the association between serological status for hepatitis E and neurocysticercosis (NCC) in neurologic patients attending a national neurological referral center in Lima, Perú, between the years 2008 and 2012. Anti-hepatitis E antibodies were evaluated in patients with and without NCC, and a control group of rural general population. Anti-hepatitis E IgG was found in 23.8% of patients with NCC, compared with 14.3% in subjects without NCC from a general rural population (P = 0.023) and 14.4% in subjects with neurological complaints without NCC (P = 0.027). Seropositive patients had a median age of 44 years compared with 30 years in seronegative patients (P <0.001). No significant differences in sex, region of residence, or liver enzyme values were found. Seropositivity to hepatitis E was frequent in this Peruvian population and higher in patients with NCC, suggesting shared common routes of infection.

Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic effects in neurocysticercosis.

Despite being a leading cause of acquired seizures in endemic regions, the pathological mechanisms of neurocysticercosis are still poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the impact of anthelmintic treatment on neuropathological features in a rat model of neurocysticercosis. Rats were intracranially infected with Taenia solium oncospheres and treated with albendazole + praziquantel (ABZ), oxfendazole + praziquantel (OXF), or untreated placebo (UT) for 7 days. Following the last dose of treatment, brain tissues were evaluated at 24 h and 2 months. We performed neuropathological assessment for cyst damage, perilesional brain inflammation, presence of axonal spheroids, and spongy changes. Both treatments showed comparable efficacy in cyst damage and inflammation. The presence of spongy change correlated with spheroids counts and were not affected by anthelmintic treatment. Compared to white matter, gray matter showed greater spongy change (91.7% vs. 21.4%, p < 0.0001), higher spheroids count (45.2 vs. 0.2, p = 0.0001), and increased inflammation (72.0% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.003). In this rat model, anthelmintic treatment destroyed brain parasitic cysts at the cost of local inflammation similar to what is described in human neurocysticercosis. Axonal spheroids and spongy changes as markers of damage were topographically correlated, and not affected by anthelmintic treatment.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes in neurocysticercosis / Ultrasonografía Doppler transcraneal para evaluar cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales en neurocisticercosis

Abstract Background Arteritis is a complication of neurocysticercosis (NCC), which is not well known and could trigger strokes. The transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is a noninvasive method for detecting, staging, and monitoring cerebrovascular diseases. Nonetheless, the utility of TCD to evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes, suggesting vasculitis associated with NCC remains uncertain. Objective To evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes using TCD in patients with subarachnoid and parenchymal NCC. Methods There were 53 patients with NCC evaluated at a reference hospital for neurological diseases included (29 with subarachnoid and 24 with parenchymal). Participants underwent a clinical interview and serology for cysticercosis and underwent TCD performed within 2 weeks of enrollment. Mean flow velocity, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and pulsatility index were recorded. Results Among the participants, there were 23 (43.4%) women, with a median age of 37 years (IQR: 29-48). Cerebral hemodynamic changes suggesting vasculitis were detected in 12 patients (22.64%); the most compromised vessel was the middle cerebral artery in 11 (91.67%) patients. There were more females in the group with sonographic signs of vasculitis (10/12, 83.33% vs. 13/41, 31.71%; p = 0.002), and this was more frequent in the subarachnoid NCC group (9/29, 31.03% vs. 3/24, 12.5%; p = 0.187), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion Cerebral hemodynamic changes suggestive of vasculitis are frequent in patients with NCC and can be evaluated using TCD.

Resumen Antecedentes La arteritis es una complicación de la neurocisticercosis (NCC), que no siempre se conoce y podría desencadenar enfermedad cerebrovascular. La ultrasonografía Doppler transcraneal (DTC) es un método no invasivo que sirve para detectar y monitorizar enfermedades cerebrovasculares. No obstante, la utilidad de la DTC para evaluar los cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales que sugieren vasculitis asociada a NCC sigue siendo incierta. Objetivo Evaluar los cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales utilizando DTC en pacientes con NCC subaracnoidea y parenquimal. Métodos Se incluyeron 53 pacientes con NCC (29 con subaracnoidea y 24 con parenquimal) evaluados en un hospital de referencia para enfermedades neurológicas. Los participantes se sometieron a una entrevista clínica y serología para cisticercosis y a una DTC realizada dentro de las 2 semanas posteriores a la inscripción. Se registraron la velocidad media del flujo, la velocidad sistólica máxima, la velocidad diastólica final y el índice de pulsatilidad. Resultados Los participantes incluyeron 23 (43,4%) mujeres con una mediana de edad de 37 años (rango intercuartílico [RIC]: 29-48). Se detectaron cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales sugestivos de vasculitis en 12 pacientes (22,64%); el vaso más comprometido fue la arteria cerebral media, en 11 (91,67%) pacientes. Hubo más mujeres en el grupo con signos ecográficos de vasculitis (10/12, 83,33% versus 13/41, 31,71%; p = 0,002), y esto fue más frecuente en el grupo de NCC subaracnoidea (9/29, 31,03% versus 3/24, 12,5%; p = 0,187), aunque esta diferencia no alcanzó significancia estadística. Conclusión Los cambios hemodinámicos cerebrales sugestivos de vasculitis son frecuentes en pacientes con NCC y pueden evaluarse mediante DTC.

Spatial transferability of an agent-based model to simulate Taenia solium control interventions.

BACKGROUND: Models can be used to study and predict the impact of interventions aimed at controlling the spread of infectious agents, such as Taenia solium, a zoonotic parasite whose larval stage causes epilepsy and economic loss in many rural areas of the developing nations. To enhance the credibility of model estimates, calibration against observed data is necessary. However, this process may lead to a paradoxical dependence of model parameters on location-specific data, thus limiting the model's geographic transferability. METHODS: In this study, we adopted a non-local model calibration approach to assess whether it can improve the spatial transferability of CystiAgent, our agent-based model of local-scale T. solium transmission. The calibration dataset for CystiAgent consisted of cross-sectional data on human taeniasis, pig cysticercosis and pig serology collected in eight villages in Northwest Peru. After calibration, the model was transferred to a second group of 21 destination villages in the same area without recalibrating its parameters. Model outputs were compared to pig serology data collected over a period of 2 years in the destination villages during a trial of T. solium control interventions, based on mass and spatially targeted human and pig treatments. RESULTS: Considering the uncertainties associated with empirical data, the model produced simulated pre-intervention pig seroprevalences that were successfully validated against data collected in 81% of destination villages. Furthermore, the model outputs were able to reproduce validated pig seroincidence values in 76% of destination villages when compared to the data obtained after the interventions. The results demonstrate that the CystiAgent model, when calibrated using a non-local approach, can be successfully transferred without requiring additional calibration. CONCLUSIONS: This feature allows the model to simulate both baseline pre-intervention transmission conditions and the outcomes of control interventions across villages that form geographically homogeneous regions, providing a basis for developing large-scale models representing T. solium transmission at a regional level.

Development and Laboratory Evaluation of a Simple, Field-Applicable Coproantigen Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Taeniasis in Northern Peru.

Coproantigen detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (coAg ELISA) is a vital tool for detecting and treating cases of Taenia solium taeniasis. However, the assay's procedures require costly materials and sophisticated equipment, which are typically inaccessible in rural settings where the disease is endemic. To overcome these barriers, we developed and evaluated a field-applicable coAg ELISA. The field coAg ELISA was developed and evaluated across four phases using known positive and negative stool samples collected from northern Peru. Phase I focused on field assay development, phase II on a small-scale performance evaluation, phase III on a large-scale evaluation, and phase IV on the use and reliability of a colorimetric scale card. All samples were processed using the field and standard assay procedures and compared using signal-to-noise ratios, correlation tests, performance characteristics, and agreement statistics where appropriate. The field coAg ELISA using reagents stored at -20°C and commercially available water and milk powder, and relying on spontaneous separation of the supernatant, had performance comparable to the standard assay. The field coAg ELISA was strongly correlated with the standard in both the small- and large-scale laboratory evaluation (r = 0.99 and r = 0.98, respectively). Finally, the field assay had an almost perfect agreement between independent readers (kappa = 0.975) and between each reader and the spectrophotometer. The field coAg ELISA demonstrated performance comparable to the standard, providing a low-cost alternative to the standard assay for identifying cases of intestinal taeniasis in a low-resource setting.

Older Age in Subarachnoid Neurocysticercosis Reflects a Long Prepatent Period.

Patients with subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (NCC) are usually older than those with parenchymal disease. Whether this difference reflects a prolonged presymptomatic period or a delay in diagnosis is not clear. From 408 eligible patients, we retrospectively compared the age at symptom onset in 140 patients diagnosed with parenchymal (pure viable or pure calcified) and subarachnoid NCC who had a confirmatory image available not more than 2 years after the beginning of symptoms. Patients with mixed (parenchymal and subarachnoid) NCC or those with parenchymal cysts at different stages (viable and/or degenerating and/or calcified) were not included. After controlling by sex and residence in rural endemic regions, the mean age at symptom onset in patients with subarachnoid disease was 13.69 years older than those with viable parenchymal disease. A long incubation period is a major contributing factor to older age at presentation in subarachnoid NCC, independent of delayed diagnosis or access to care.

Consistent Measurement of Parasite-Specific Antigen Levels in Sera of Patients with Neurocysticercosis Using Two Different Monoclonal Antibody (mAb)-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays.

Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a complementary diagnosis technique for neurocysticercosis (NCC), which detects circulating parasite antigen (Ag) indicative of viable infection and Ag levels that correlate well with the parasite burden. In this study, we compared the performance of two Ag-ELISA techniques for the detection of NCC. We assessed the agreement between our in-house TsW8/TsW5 Ag-ELISA and the widely used B158/B60 Ag-ELISA for measuring T. solium antigen levels in the sera from 113 patients with calcified, parenchymal, and subarachnoid NCC. Concordance was demonstrated evaluating the limits of agreement (LoAs) stratified by the type of NCC. Both ELISA's detected 47/48 (97.8%) subarachnoid NCC cases. In parenchymal and calcified NCC, the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA detected 19/24 (79.2%) and 18/41 (43.9%) cases, while the TsW8/TsW5 Ag-ELISA detected 21/24 (87.5%) and 13/41 (31.7%), respectively. Parenchymal and calcified NCC obtained a perfect agreement (100%), indicating that all sample results were within the predicted LoA, while for subarachnoid NCC, the agreement was 89.6%. The high concordance between the assays was confirmed by Lin's concordance coefficient (LCC = 0.97). Patients with viable parenchymal NCC (LCC = 0.95) obtained the highest concordance between assays, followed by subarachnoid NCC (LCC = 0.93) and calcified NCC (LCC = 0.92). The TsW8/TsW5 Ag-ELISA and B158/B60 Ag-ELISA showed high Ag measurement correlations across diverse types of NCC.

Evaluating the Role of Corrals and Insects in the Transmission of Porcine Cysticercosis: A Cohort Study.

The widespread dispersion of pigs infected with cysticercosis across endemic villages, low cyst burden among infected pigs, and low prevalence of taeniasis all suggest that pig ingestion of human feces is not the only mode of transmission for Taenia solium. Our objective was to evaluate the risk of porcine cysticercosis associated with exposure to human feces, dung beetles, and flies in an endemic community setting. We used a cluster-randomized cohort design to compare the risk of developing antibodies and infection among 120 piglets raised in either free-roaming (FR), standard corral (SC), or netted corral environments (NC). We collected monthly blood samples to detect serum antibodies and necropsied all pigs after 10 months to identify cysts. A total of 66 piglets developed antibodies with the relative risk of seropositivity in FR vs. all corralled pigs increasing significantly after 18 weeks. Of 108 necropsied pigs, 15 had T. solium cysts, all belonging to the FR group. Corrals were protective against infection but less so against seropositivity. NC, which did not completely exclude insects, did not provide added protection against seropositivity as compared to SC. The results of this study suggest that dung beetles and flies do not play an important role in infection.

A Rapid Point-of-Care Assay for Cysticercosis Antigen Detection in Urine Samples.

We report a proof-of-concept study using a dipstick assay to detect Taenia solium antigen in urine samples of 30 patients with subarachnoid neurocysticercosis and 10 healthy control subjects. Strips were read in blind by two readers. The assay detected antigen in 29 of 30 cases and was negative in all 10 control samples. Although this study was performed in samples from individuals with subarachnoid neurocysticercosis who likely had high circulating antigen levels, it provides the proof of concept for a functional urine antigen point-of-care assay that detects viable cysts. Such an assay could serve to support a clinical diagnosis of suspect neurocysticercosis or to identify patients at risk of developing severe disease in areas where medical resources are limited, providing evidence to refer these individuals for imaging and specialized care as needed.

Antibody Banding Patterns on the Enzyme-Linked Immunoelectrotransfer Blot (EITB) Assay Clearly Discriminate Viable Cysticercosis in Naturally Infected Pigs.

Enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) detects antibodies against seven Taenia solium larvae antigens in three protein families (GP50, T24/42, and 8-kDa) with different structures and functions. EITB banding patterns against these antigens in pigs provide information about the course of infection and may discriminate viable cysticercosis. We analyzed the banding patterns and infection outcomes (presence of viable cysts, degenerated cysts, and any cysts) of 512 rural pigs. Banding patterns were grouped into homogenous classes using latent class analysis, and relationships with infection outcomes were assessed. Four classes were identified: 1 (n = 308, EITB-negative or positive for the GP50 family), 2 (n = 127, positive for GP50 (GP50 family), GP42-39 and GP24 (T24/42 family), but negative for 8-kDa antigens), 3 (n = 22, positive for GP50 and T24/42 antigens (GP42-39 and GP24), as well as to 8-kDa bands GP13, GP14, and GP18, but negative for GP21), and 4 (n = 55, positive for GP50 and T24/42 antigens, as well as to 8-kDa antigens GP21 and GP18 in combination). Pigs in classes 3 and 4 were more likely to have viable cysts (72.6% and 96.4%, respectively) than pigs in classes 1 and 2 (0.7% and 27.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). The number of infections with any cysts was higher in classes 3 and 4 (77.3% and 98.2%, respectively) and lower in classes 2 and 1 (34.7% and 4.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Pigs with viable cysts represented >90% of pigs with any cysts in classes 3 and 4 (94.1% and 98.2%, respectively), while degenerated cysts were frequent among pigs with any cysts in classes 1, 3, and 2 (86.7%, 47.1%, and 43.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). EITB banding patterns strongly correlate with cysticercosis infection status in rural pigs, with classes 3 and 4 being more predictive of viable infections.

Calcified Neurocysticercosis: Demographic, Clinical, and Radiological Characteristics of a Large Hospital-Based Patient Cohort.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), the infection of the central nervous system caused by Taenia solium larvae (cysticerci), is a major cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide. Calcification in NCC is the most common neuroimaging finding among individuals with epilepsy in T. solium-endemic areas. We describe the demographic, clinical, and radiological profiles of a large hospital cohort of patients with calcified NCC in Peru (during the period 2012-2022) and compared profiles between patients with and without a previous known diagnosis of viable infection. A total of 524 patients were enrolled (mean age at enrollment: 40.2 ± 15.2 years, mean age at symptom onset: 29.1 ± 16.1 years, 56.3% women). Of those, 415 patients (79.2%) had previous seizures (median time with seizures: 5 years, interquartile range (IQR): 2-13 years; median number of seizures: 7 (IQR: 3-32)), of which 333 (80.2%) had predominantly focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures; and 358 (68.3%) used antiseizure medication). Patients had a median number of three calcifications (IQR: 1-7), mostly located in the frontal lobes (79%). In 282 patients (53.8%) there was a previous diagnosis of viable infection, while 242 only had evidence of calcified NCC since their initial neuroimaging. Most patients previously diagnosed with viable infection were male, had previous seizures, had seizures for a longer time, had more calcifications, and had a history of taeniasis more frequently than patients without previously diagnosed viable infection (all p < 0.05). Patients with calcified NCC were heterogeneous regarding burden of infection and clinical manifestations, and individuals who were diagnosed after parasites calcified presented with milder disease manifestations.

Experimental brain infection with cysticercosis in sheep. / Infección experimental cerebral con cisticercosis en ovejas.

OBJECTIVE.: To explore the feasibility of developing a sheep model of neurocysticercosis (NCC) by intracranial infection with T. solium oncospheres. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: We carried out an experimental infection model of NCC in sheep. Approximately 10 T. solium oncospheres previously cultured for 30 days were inoculated intracranially into ten sheep. The oncospheres, in 0.1 mL of physiological saline, were injected into the parietal lobe through an 18-gauge needle. RESULTS.: After three months, granulomas were found in two sheep. In a third sheep we identified a 5 mm diameter cyst in the right lateral ventricle and histological evaluation confirmed that the cyst corresponded to a T. solium larva. Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies directed against membrane components and excretory/secretory antigens of the T. solium cyst was also used to confirm the etiology of the found granulomas. One of them showed reactivity to the monoclonal antibodies used, thus confirming that it was a cysticercus. CONCLUSION.: This experiment is the proof of concept that it is possible to infect sheep with cysticercosis by intracranial inoculation.

OBJETIVO: . Explorar la viabilidad de desarrollar un modelo de neurocisticercosis (NCC) de oveja mediante infección intracraneal de oncosferas de T. solium. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Se realizó un modelo de infección experimental de NCC en ovejas. Se inocularon aproximadamente 10 posoncósferas de T. solium cultivadas previamente por 30 días por vía intracraneal en diez ovejas. Las oncósferas, en 0,1 mL de solución salina fisiológica, se inyectaron en el lóbulo parietal a través de una aguja de calibre 18. RESULTADOS.: Después de tres meses, en dos ovejas se encontraron granulomas y en una tercera identificó un quiste de 5 mm de diámetro en el ventrículo lateral derecho y la evaluación histológica confirmó que el quiste corresponde a una larva de T. solium. También se utilizó inmunohistoquímica con anticuerpos monoclonales dirigidos contra componentes de membrana y antígenos excretorios/secretorios del quiste de T. solium para confirmar la etiología de los granulomas encontrados. Uno de ellos mostro reactividad ante los anticuerpos monoclonales utilizados, confirmando así que se trató de un cisticerco. CONCLUSIÓN.: Este experimento es la prueba de concepto de que es posible infectar ovejas con cisticercosis por inoculación intracraneal.

Non-local validated parametrization of an agent-based model of local-scale Taenia solium transmission in North-West Peru.

The pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is the cause of a preventable zoonotic disease, cysticercosis, affecting both pigs and humans. Continued endemic transmission of T. solium is a major contributor of epilepsy and other neurologic morbidity, and the source of important economic losses, in many rural areas of developing countries. Simulation modelling can play an important role in aiding the design and evaluation of strategies to control or even eliminate transmission of the parasite. In this paper, we present a new agent based model of local-scale T. solium transmission and a new, non-local, approach to the model calibration to fit model outputs to observed human taeniasis and pig cysticercosis prevalence simultaneously for several endemic villages. The model fully describes all relevant aspects of T. solium transmission, including the processes of pig and human infection, the spatial distribution of human and pig populations, the production of pork for human consumption, and the movement of humans and pigs in and out in several endemic villages of the northwest of Peru. Despite the high level of uncertainty associated with the empirical measurements of epidemiological data associated with T. solium, the non-local calibrated model parametrization reproduces the observed prevalences with an acceptable precision. It does so not only for the villages used to calibrate the model, but also for villages not included in the calibration process. This important finding demonstrates that the model, including its calibrated parametrization, can be successfully transferred within an endemic region. This will enable future studies to inform the design and optimization of T. solium control interventions in villages where the calibration may be prevented by the limited amount of empirical data, expanding the possible applications to a wider range of settings compared to previous models.

Infección experimental cerebral con cisticercosis en ovejas / Experimental brain infection with cysticercosis in sheep

RESUMEN Objetivo . Explorar la viabilidad de desarrollar un modelo de neurocisticercosis (NCC) de oveja mediante infección intracraneal de oncosferas de T. solium. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un modelo de infección experimental de NCC en ovejas. Se inocularon aproximadamente 10 posoncósferas de T. solium cultivadas previamente por 30 días por vía intracraneal en diez ovejas. Las oncósferas, en 0,1 mL de solución salina fisiológica, se inyectaron en el lóbulo parietal a través de una aguja de calibre 18. Resultados. Después de tres meses, en dos ovejas se encontraron granulomas y en una tercera identificó un quiste de 5 mm de diámetro en el ventrículo lateral derecho y la evaluación histológica confirmó que el quiste corresponde a una larva de T. solium. También se utilizó inmunohistoquímica con anticuerpos monoclonales dirigidos contra componentes de membrana y antígenos excretorios/secretorios del quiste de T. solium para confirmar la etiología de los granulomas encontrados. Uno de ellos mostro reactividad ante los anticuerpos monoclonales utilizados, confirmando así que se trató de un cisticerco. Conclusión. Este experimento es la prueba de concepto de que es posible infectar ovejas con cisticercosis por inoculación intracraneal.

ABSTRACT Objective. To explore the feasibility of developing a sheep model of neurocysticercosis (NCC) by intracranial infection with T. solium oncospheres. Materials and methods. We carried out an experimental infection model of NCC in sheep. Approximately 10 T. solium oncospheres previously cultured for 30 days were inoculated intracranially into ten sheep. The oncospheres, in 0.1 mL of physiological saline, were injected into the parietal lobe through an 18-gauge needle. Results. After three months, granulomas were found in two sheep. In a third sheep we identified a 5 mm diameter cyst in the right lateral ventricle and histological evaluation confirmed that the cyst corresponded to a T. solium larva. Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies directed against membrane components and excretory/secretory antigens of the T. solium cyst was also used to confirm the etiology of the found granulomas. One of them showed reactivity to the monoclonal antibodies used, thus confirming that it was a cysticercus. Conclusion. This experiment is the proof of concept that it is possible to infect sheep with cysticercosis by intracranial inoculation.