Taenia solium’s Neurological Effect on Epilepsy in Developing Countries
Section
By [Joy Head]
Neurocysticercosis is the leading cause of seizures and epilepsy in developing countries and the most common parasitic disease of the CNS [1]. Although it millions of people have this parasitic infection, it is very much so preventable. In industrialized countries, it is usually seen in immigrants due to humans being intermediate hosts carrying it from areas of endemic disease. In the United States, neurocysticercosis is most prevalent in California, Texas, and New Mexico and a significant factor of morbidity in the Hispanic community. However, there have been cases where natives have gotten the disease due to their food being handled by a carrier of Taeniasis or T. solium [2].
Neurocysticercosis is endemic in Central and South America, China, Africa, and Asia, with the except of Japan, Israel, and Muslim countries, due to the lack of control in domestic pig-raising and improved sanitation. Pigs are usually killed clandestinely to preserve commercial value. Because only a few cuts are usually made the inspection of the carcass is overlooked, often missing signs of mild infections. Even though cysticercosis reduces the commercial value of pigs and cattle, the system pressures farmers to slaughter pigs illegally and ignore the distribution of infected meat[3].Developed countries like the United States have for the most part eradicated cysticercosis by controlling domestic pig-raising and having strict sanitation rules. Due to lack of socioeconomic growth in endemic, intervention methods for controlling and eradicating the transmission of T. solium in pigs is needed. My question is to investigate what has made this infection a neglected parasite infection in the USA but also the leading cause of onset epilepsy worldwide by looking at developing countries.
Section 1
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
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Section 2
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
Section 3
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
Section 4
Conclusion
References
- ↑ "The causal relationship between neurocysticercosis infection and the development of epilepsy - a systematic review" Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2017 6:31
- ↑ "Neurocysticercosis" Medscape 2016
- ↑ "Neurocysticercosis and epilepsy in developing countries" Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 2000
Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2017, Kenyon College.
- ↑ [DeGiorgio, C., Medina, M., Duron, R., Zee, C. and Escueta, S. (2004). "Neurocysticercosis". Epilepsy Currents, 4(3), pp.107-111.]
- ↑ [En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Taenia solium. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taenia_solium.]
- ↑ [García, H., Gonzalez, A., Evans, C. and Gilman, R. (2003). Taenia solium cysticercosis. The Lancet, 362(9383), pp.547-556.]
- ↑ [Pal, D. (2000). Neurocysticercosis and epilepsy in developing countries. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 68(2), pp.137-143.]
- ↑ [Rajshekhar, V., Joshi, D., Doanh, N., van De, N. and Xiaonong, Z. (2003). Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis in Asia: epidemiology, impact and issues. Acta Tropica, 87(1), pp.53-60.]
