Cysticercosis in epileptic patients of Mulungu do Morro Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• cysticercosis
• epilepsy
• seizures
• neurocysticercosis
• epidemiology