LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cysticercosis: United States
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Central nervous system cysticercosis, caused by infection with the larva of the pork tapeworm, is common throughout the world. Infection occurs after ingestion of fecal contaminants containing the ova of Taenia solium. The clinical manifestations depend on the number, age, and location of the larval cysts disrupting neural tissues. Several disease patterns are apparent: (1) basilar cysticercosis resulting in chronic meningitis or progressive hydrocephalus, (2) parenchymal cysts with focal symptoms, (3) diffuse parenchymal cysts with intracranial hypertension, (4) ventricular localization with episodic acute hydrocephalus, and (5) spinal cord cysticercosis mimicking mass lesions. Mixtures of these basic patterns may occur, and asymptomatic infections are common. In the United States, meningeal cysticercosis is often mistaken for tuberculous or fungal meningitis.
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The tapeworm that causes cysticercosis is found worldwide. Infection is found most often in rural, developing countries with poor hygiene where pigs are allowed to roam freely and eat human feces. This allows the tapeworm infection to be completed and the cycle to continue. Infection can occur, though rarely, if you have never traveled outside of the United States. Taeniasis and cysticercosis are very rare in Muslim countries where eating pork is forbidden.
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Bovine cysticercosis has a worldwide distribution, and is found sporadically in Canada, as well as the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It is most prevalent in countries where cattle farming involves poor sanitation, and where cultural habits include eating undercooked beef.
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Zoli A, Shey-Njila O, Assana A, Nguekam J, Dorny P, Brandt J and Geerts S 2003 Regional status, epidemiology and impact of Taenia solium cysticercosis in Western and Central Africa. Acta Tropica 87: 35-42.
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Diagnosis of cysticercosis in a nonendemic region such as the United States requires a high index of suspicion in the appropriate clinical setting. Travel to or emigration from an endemic area should raise suspicion, but exact timing may not be helpful because of
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Cutaneous cysticercosis, often believed to be common in poor and non-vegetarians, did not appear to respect the social status in the present study. All the vegetarian patients in the present study were fond of eating raw vegetables possibly leading to ingestion of the ova.
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