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Seroprevalence of Taenia solium infections in Croatian patients presenting with epilepsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2011

T. Meštrović ,
M. Sviben ,
T. Vilibić-Čavlek ,
S. Ljubin-Sternak ,
I. Tabain  and
G. Mlinarić-Galinović
T. Meštrović
Affiliation:
Polyclinic for Medical Microbiology and Parasitology ‘Dr. Zora Profozic’, Bosutska 19, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
M. Sviben*
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockeferellova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
T. Vilibić-Čavlek
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockeferellova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
S. Ljubin-Sternak
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockeferellova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
I. Tabain
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockeferellova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
G. Mlinarić-Galinović
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockeferellova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
*
*Fax +385 1 4683 017 E-mail: mario.sviben@hzjz.hr
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Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, while neurocysticercosis caused by Taenia solium infection of the central nervous system currently represents the leading cause of secondary epilepsy in Central and South America, East and South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. As a result of increased migration from these endemic regions, neurocysticercosis and subsequent epilepsy are becoming a growing public health problem in developed countries as well. In order to determine the prevalence of T. solium infection in patients with epilepsy in Croatia, a retrospective serological study was conducted. A total of 770 serum samples were tested for the presence of T. solium IgG antibodies using a commercial qualitative enzyme immunoassay. The Western blot technique was used as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis. The overall seroprevalence rate of T. solium infection in patients with clinically proven epilepsy was 1.5%. Although the results have shown that infection with this tapeworm is rare in Croatia, this study hopes to increase awareness about the importance of preventive measures and benefits of accurate and timely diagnosis. Intervention measures for infection control are crucial, namely sanitation improvement, control of domestic pig-breeding, detailed meat inspection, detection and treatment of tapeworm carriers, hand washing and health education.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 86 , Issue 3 , September 2012 , pp. 259 - 262
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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