Taenia solium cysticercosis and its impact in neurological disease

Taenia solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) is endemic in most of the world and contributes significantly to the burden of epilepsy and other neurological mor-bidity. Also present in developed countries because of immigration and travel, NCC is one of few diseases targeted for eradication. This paper reviews all aspects of its life cycle (taeniasis, porcine cysticercosis, human cysticercosis), with a focus on re-cent advances in its diagnosis, management, and control. Diagnosis of taeniasis is limited by poor availability of immunological or molecular assays. Diagnosis of NCC rests on neuroimaging findings, supported by serological assays. The treatment of NCC should be approached in the context of the particular type of infection (intra-or extraparenchymal; number, location, and stage of lesions) and has evolved to-ward combined symptomatic and antiparasitic management, with particular atten-tion to modulating inflammation. Research on NCC and particularly the use of re-cently available genome data and animal models of infection should help to elucidate mechanisms of brain inflammation, damage, and epileptogenesis.