Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.

<h4>Background</h4>Cysticercosis is caused by the invasion of human or pig tissues by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia solium. In Europe, the disease was endemic in the past but the autochthonous natural life cycle of the parasite is currently completed very rarely. Recently, impor...

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Main Authors: Lorenzo Zammarchi, Marianne Strohmeyer, Filippo Bartalesi, Elisa Bruno, José Muñoz, Dora Buonfrate, Alessandra Nicoletti, Héctor Hugo García, Edoardo Pozio, Alessandro Bartoloni, COHEMI Project Study Group
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Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069537
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author Lorenzo Zammarchi
Marianne Strohmeyer
Filippo Bartalesi
Elisa Bruno
José Muñoz
Dora Buonfrate
Alessandra Nicoletti
Héctor Hugo García
Edoardo Pozio
Alessandro Bartoloni
COHEMI Project Study Group
author_facet Lorenzo Zammarchi
Marianne Strohmeyer
Filippo Bartalesi
Elisa Bruno
José Muñoz
Dora Buonfrate
Alessandra Nicoletti
Héctor Hugo García
Edoardo Pozio
Alessandro Bartoloni
COHEMI Project Study Group
author_sort Lorenzo Zammarchi
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Cysticercosis is caused by the invasion of human or pig tissues by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia solium. In Europe, the disease was endemic in the past but the autochthonous natural life cycle of the parasite is currently completed very rarely. Recently, imported cases have increased in parallel to the increased number of migrations and international travels. The lack of specific surveillance systems for cysticercosis leads to underestimation of the epidemiological and clinical impacts.<h4>Objectives</h4>To review the available data on epidemiology and management of cysticercosis in Europe.<h4>Methods</h4>A review of literature on human cysticercosis and T. solium taeniasis in Europe published between 1990-2011 was conducted.<h4>Results</h4>Out of 846 cysticercosis cases described in the literature, 522 cases were autochthonous and 324 cases were imported. The majority (70.1%) of the autochthonous cases were diagnosed in Portugal from 1983 and 1994. Imported cases of which 242 (74.7%) diagnosed in migrants and 57 (17.6%) in European travellers, showed an increasing trend. Most of imported cases were acquired in Latin America (69.8% of migrants and 44.0% of travellers). The majority of imported cases were diagnosed in Spain (47.5%), France (16.7%) and Italy (8.3%). One third of neurosurgical procedures were performed because the suspected diagnosis was cerebral neoplasm. Sixty eight autochthonous and 5 imported T. solium taeniasis cases were reported.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Cysticercosis remains a challenge for European care providers, since they are often poorly aware of this infection and have little familiarity in managing this disease. Cysticercosis should be included among mandatory reportable diseases, in order to improve the accuracy of epidemiological information. European health care providers might benefit from a transfer of knowledge from colleagues working in endemic areas and the development of shared diagnostic and therapeutic processes would have impact on the quality of the European health systems.
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spelling doaj-art-aedef3ebf88249bf812a42c6ff96c3b42025-08-20T03:29:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0187e6953710.1371/journal.pone.0069537Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.Lorenzo ZammarchiMarianne StrohmeyerFilippo BartalesiElisa BrunoJosé MuñozDora BuonfrateAlessandra NicolettiHéctor Hugo GarcíaEdoardo PozioAlessandro BartoloniCOHEMI Project Study Group<h4>Background</h4>Cysticercosis is caused by the invasion of human or pig tissues by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia solium. In Europe, the disease was endemic in the past but the autochthonous natural life cycle of the parasite is currently completed very rarely. Recently, imported cases have increased in parallel to the increased number of migrations and international travels. The lack of specific surveillance systems for cysticercosis leads to underestimation of the epidemiological and clinical impacts.<h4>Objectives</h4>To review the available data on epidemiology and management of cysticercosis in Europe.<h4>Methods</h4>A review of literature on human cysticercosis and T. solium taeniasis in Europe published between 1990-2011 was conducted.<h4>Results</h4>Out of 846 cysticercosis cases described in the literature, 522 cases were autochthonous and 324 cases were imported. The majority (70.1%) of the autochthonous cases were diagnosed in Portugal from 1983 and 1994. Imported cases of which 242 (74.7%) diagnosed in migrants and 57 (17.6%) in European travellers, showed an increasing trend. Most of imported cases were acquired in Latin America (69.8% of migrants and 44.0% of travellers). The majority of imported cases were diagnosed in Spain (47.5%), France (16.7%) and Italy (8.3%). One third of neurosurgical procedures were performed because the suspected diagnosis was cerebral neoplasm. Sixty eight autochthonous and 5 imported T. solium taeniasis cases were reported.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Cysticercosis remains a challenge for European care providers, since they are often poorly aware of this infection and have little familiarity in managing this disease. Cysticercosis should be included among mandatory reportable diseases, in order to improve the accuracy of epidemiological information. European health care providers might benefit from a transfer of knowledge from colleagues working in endemic areas and the development of shared diagnostic and therapeutic processes would have impact on the quality of the European health systems.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069537
spellingShingle Lorenzo Zammarchi
Marianne Strohmeyer
Filippo Bartalesi
Elisa Bruno
José Muñoz
Dora Buonfrate
Alessandra Nicoletti
Héctor Hugo García
Edoardo Pozio
Alessandro Bartoloni
COHEMI Project Study Group
Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.
PLoS ONE
title Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.
title_full Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.
title_fullStr Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.
title_short Epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in Europe, systematic review 1990-2011.
title_sort epidemiology and management of cysticercosis and taenia solium taeniasis in europe systematic review 1990 2011
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069537
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