Public Health Implications of Cysticercosis Acquired in the United States

• Main Authors: Frank J. Sorvillo, Patricia P. Wilkins, Shira Shafir, Mark L. Eberhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011-01-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Parasites; foodborne infections; cysticercosis; neurologic disease; Taenia solium; public health
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/1/10-1210_article

Cysticercosis has emerged as a cause of severe neurologic disease in the United States that primarily affects immigrants from Latin America. Moreover, the relevance of cysticercosis as a public health problem has been highlighted by local transmission. We searched the biomedical literature for reports documenting cases of cysticercosis acquired in the United States. A total of 78 cases, principally neurocysticercosis, were reported from 12 states during 1954–2005. A confirmed or presumptive source of infection was identified among household members or close personal contacts of 16 (21%) case-patients. Several factors, including the severe, potentially fatal, nature of cysticercosis; its fecal–oral route of transmission; the considerable economic effect; the availability of a sensitive and specific serologic test for infection by adult Taenia solium tapeworms; and the demonstrated ability to find a probable source of infection among contacts, all provide a compelling rationale for implementation of public health control efforts.