Why are tapeworm carriers so difficult to find? A methodological proposal for their search and recovery.

Autor: Villalobos N; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico. Electronic address: nelly@unam.mx., Martínez-Maya JJ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico., Martínez-Núñez G; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Academic Unit No. 2, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero, 41940, Mexico., Figueroa-Delgado A; Universidad Tecnológica Del Mar Del Estado de Guerrero, Marquelia, Guerrero, 41937, Mexico., Flisser A; Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico., Sciutto E; Institute of Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Experimental parasitology [Exp Parasitol] 2023 Jul; Vol. 250, pp. 108529. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Apr 02.
DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108529
Abstrakt: Neurocysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium, is a life-threatening condition and the most severe form of the disease. Yet, despite being a required link in the parasite life cycle, tapeworm carriers are rarely reported. This study is aimed to find and evaluate T. solium carriers, describing some characteristics of these patients and the treatment. Taeniasis cases were searched for in various Mexican states from 1983 to 2016. Previous informed consent, tapeworm-carrier patients were administered with niclosamide and a saline purge. Parasite specimens were recovered and identified, both morphologically and by PCR. From 117 treated patients, Taenia sp. specimens were obtained from 46 subjects (47.8%). From these, complete parasites were recovered from 42 (90.5%), and only detached proglottids from 4 patients. Cases were more frequent in Morelos, Chiapas, and Guerrero. More than one adult cestode was recovered from 4 patients (9.5%). To improve treatment efficacy and adherence, the drug was administered in late afternoon, resulting a high recovery yield of complete parasites (90.5%). The success rate of deworming campaigns in areas of Mexico and the world that are endemic for Taenia sp. could be improved by administering the treatment at times that do not interfere with the patients' daily activities, and national health authorities could apply this simple strategy to help eradication efforts in endemic areas. The detection of carriers will only be possible through the coordinated efforts of public and private health services, a better education of the general population to improve self-detection, and adequate, personalized diagnostic procedures for suspect cases.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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