RESUMEN
The Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis complex is an important public-health problem in several countries, where many epileptic seizures appear to be associated with neurocysticercosis. As few data on this problem in Nicaragua exist, the seroprevalence of antibodies reacting with antigens from T. solium cysticerci was investigated among 88 Nicaraguan epileptics (45 males and 43 females, aged 6-53 years). In questionnaire-based interviews, each adult subject and a caregiver of each child investigated were asked about potential risk factors for taeniasis/cysticercosis. When a serum sample from each subject was then checked for anti-cysticercus antibodies, 8.0% of the subjects were found seropositive by ELISA and 14.8% by western blotting. Five samples (all from individuals who had been epileptic for > 5 years) were positive in both tests. When the level of association between each potential risk factor and seropositivity (in ELISA or by blotting) was evaluated, the only statistically significant association detected was that between a positive ELISA and the subject living in a household where pigs were raised (odds ratio = 5.18; 95% confidence interval = 0.8-41.6; P = 0.05). The bands most frequently recognized in the western blots (of 50, 42-39, 24 and 14 kDa) were those previously reported. The results indicate that, in the city of Léon, cysticercosis may be endemic and the cause of a significant proportion of the epilepsy recorded.
Asunto(s)
Epilepsia/epidemiología , Neurocisticercosis/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Animales , Anticuerpos Antihelmínticos/sangre , Western Blotting/métodos , Niño , Cysticercus/inmunología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/métodos , Epilepsia/etiología , Epilepsia/inmunología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neurocisticercosis/complicaciones , Neurocisticercosis/inmunología , Nicaragua/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , PorcinosRESUMEN
With the aim to study the magnitude of infection by the metacestode of Taenia solium in a population of epileptic patients in the arid region of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, we examined 200 consecutive cases who attended an ambulatory clinic in the disctrict of Mulungu do Morro. Sixty-six of the patients had a diagnosis of epilepsy. From them 10 (15.2%) presented antibodies against a specific fraction of antigens in Western blot, and 4 (6.0%) had circulating parasite products, as tested by capture ELISA. Only 1 case was positive for antibodies and antigens. We found that the frequency of seropositivity was related to the time without epileptic seizure. We conclude that cysticercosis is endemic in the region of Mulungu do Morro and that it is related to a benign form of epilepsy.
Asunto(s)
Cisticercosis/epidemiología , Enfermedades Endémicas , Epilepsia/parasitología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anticuerpos Antihelmínticos , Western Blotting , Brasil/epidemiología , Niño , Cisticercosis/complicaciones , Cisticercosis/diagnóstico , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neurocisticercosis/complicaciones , Neurocisticercosis/epidemiología , Áreas de Pobreza , PrevalenciaRESUMEN
In order to determine if a specific response is induced after spinal cord injury, we performed a kinetic search for IgG antibodies against various spinal cord antigenic preparations in a rat contusion model. Even though spinal cord injured animals showed two reactive bands, these could be originated by the reaction of natural antibodies, since they were also observed before lesion. Thus, these antibodies would not be of relevance in the pathogenic events of spinal cord injury in this rat model. Our findings do not demonstrate the existence of a specific IgG response against spinal cord constituents after injury.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos/inmunología , Contusiones/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Traumatismos de la Médula Espinal/inmunología , Médula Espinal/inmunología , Animales , Formación de Anticuerpos , Autoanticuerpos/análisis , Proteína Básica de Mielina/inmunología , Ratas , Ratas Long-EvansRESUMEN
To determine markers of Taenia solium transmission and risk factors in an urban community, we studied 1,000 soldiers from a military camp in Mexico City and their relatives. Serum samples were used to detect antigens and antibodies and fecal specimens were examined for Taenia coproantigens and helminth eggs. Prevalences of 12.2% and 5.8% for cysticercosis were found among soldiers and their relatives, respectively. Taeniasis was found in 0.5% and none of the groups, respectively. Relatives of soldiers positive for cysticercosis and taeniasis markers ate more pork from street stores than restaurants or markets compared with relatives of soldiers without these indicators of infection. Also, 12.0% of the relatives of positive soldiers had a history of expelling tapeworm proglottids in the feces in contrast to 3.7% of the family members of the control group. Prevalence values and risk factors in this urban population are similar to those of previous studies performed in rural populations.