Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Cysticercosis in Mexican Americans in Starr County, Texas
Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection and neglected tropical disease caused by <i>Taenia solium</i>, or the pork tapeworm. Cysticercosis with central nervous system involvement, or neurocysticercosis, is a leading cause of chronic headaches and epilepsy in endemic regions, including Lat...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/988 |
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| Summary: | Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection and neglected tropical disease caused by <i>Taenia solium</i>, or the pork tapeworm. Cysticercosis with central nervous system involvement, or neurocysticercosis, is a leading cause of chronic headaches and epilepsy in endemic regions, including Latin America and Asia. In the United States, the epidemiology of cysticercosis has not been well described. We conducted a cross-section serosurvey of Mexican-American adults residing along the Texas–Mexico border (Starr County, Texas) and identified an overall seroprevalence of 7.4% (45/605) for cysticercosis. Brain imaging studies conducted on seropositive study participants identified lesions consistent with calcified neurocysticercosis in 2 of the 45 seropositive individuals. Female sex (<i>p</i> = 0.021), employment in healthcare, caregiving, or social service (<i>p</i> = 0.002), and indoor occupation (<i>p</i> < 0.001) were found to be significantly associated with seropositivity. Further study is needed to evaluate the burden of neurocysticercosis and local transmission risk in this community. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-0817 |