Helminthic diseases: Taeniasis and cysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis, the most frequent and clinically relevant manifestation of Taenia solium larvae infection, is widely recognized as the most common parasitosis of the central nervous system and as the leading cause of acquired seizures in the developing world. Beyond the borders of endemic countries, neurocysticercosis is increasingly diagnosed in the developed world, primarily in immigrants and individuals who have traveled to areas of endemicity. During recent decades, advancements in diagnostic assays, antiparasitic treatment, and an understanding of the epidemiology of neurocysticercosis have greatly enriched the scientific community's knowledge of the evolution of infection and disease. At the present time, a large-scale eradication effort is in progress exploring interventions to control and eventually eliminate the disease. © 2008