Neurocysticercosis Burden in Pig Farming Community of North India

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common cause of acquired active epilepsy (AE). NCC is under reported in India due to lack of systematic systematic studies. We investigated NCC burden in pig farming community of Lucknow district. Total 294 families with 1640 subjects from 30 villages were surveyed for AE; 595 asymptomatic individuals underwent magnetic resonance imaging of brain. TLR4, MMP9, ICAM1 and GST genes polymorphisms were studied for their role in symptomatic disease. Slaughtered pigs were screened for cysticercosis. Total 95 (5.8%) subjects with AE were identified; 48.3% of them had NCC. Ninety (15%) asymptomatic individuals had NCC. Thirteen (26%) of 50 pigs slaughtered had cysticercosis. The results showed high NCC burden in pig farming community and NCC as major cause of AE. Individuals with polymorphic TLR4, MMP9, ICAM1 and GST genotypes were susceptible for symptomatic disease. High swine cysticercosis prevalence suggests the transmission dynamic between human and swine in the community.

Keywords

• active epilepsy
• host genetic factors
• neurocysticercosis
• seizure
• swine cysticercosis