| Autor: |
Iqbal J; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait., Ahmad S; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait., Al-Awadhi M; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait., Masud A; Al-Sabah Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City 13001, Kuwait., Mohsin Z; Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health, Farwaniya 81004, Kuwait., Abdulrasoul AY; Jahra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Alsafat 01753, Kuwait., Albenwan K; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait., Alenezi N; Parasitology Reference Laboratory, Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital, Jabriya 47060, Kuwait., AlFarsi F; Parasitology Reference Laboratory, Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital, Jabriya 47060, Kuwait. |
| Abstrakt: |
Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a leading global cause of severe progressive headache and epilepsy, in developed or affluent countries is mostly diagnosed among immigrants from poor or developing Taenia solium taeniasis-endemic countries. Taeniasis carriers in Kuwait are routinely screened by insensitive stool microscopy. In this study, enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) was used as a confirmatory test for NCC. Screening was performed on 970 patients referred for suspected NCC on the basis of relevant history and/or ring-enhancing lesions on computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging during a 14-year period in Kuwait. Demographic data and clinical details were retrieved from laboratory or hospital records. EITB was positive in 150 subjects (15.5%), including 98 expatriates mostly originating from taeniasis-endemic countries and, surprisingly, 52 Kuwaiti nationals. The clinical details of 48 of 50 NCC cases diagnosed during 2014-2019 were available. Most common symptoms included seizures, persistent headache with/without fever, and fits or loss of consciousness. Cysticercal lesions were located at various brain regions in 39 of 48 patients. Multiple members of 3 families with NCC were identified; infection was linked to domestic workers from taeniasis-endemic countries and confirmed in at least 1 family. Our data show that NCC is predominantly imported in Kuwait by expatriates originating from taeniasis-endemic countries who transmit the infection to Kuwaiti citizens. |
