title: Serological screening for cysticercosis in mentally altered individuals.
abstract: The parasitic infection neurocysticercosis may give rise to a variety of psychiatric manifestations that resemble, but are different from, primary psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to determine if among individuals from a neurocysticercosis-endemic area of Colombia who apparently had a psychiatric manifestation with associated neurological finding ('cases'), some could have been infected with Taenia solium cysticerci. This case-control study was done in individuals hospitalized in two mental institutions. The control-1 individuals were those classified with primary psychiatric disease, and the control-2 group consisted of healthy, non-hospitalized individuals. A serological test for cysticercosis was positive in 5/96 (5.1%) cases, 4/153 (2.6%) psychiatric controls, and 5/246 (2%) healthy controls. The data analysis indicated a weak association between the cases and a positive serology for neurocysticercosis (odds ratio > 2; P > 0.05). The lower education level of the cases influenced this association.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Nariño, Centro de Estudios en Salud, San Juan de Pasto, Colombia.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanzón
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: José P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaza
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardona
authors.forename: Luis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Moncayo
authors.forename: Guido E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Villota
authors.forename: Olga T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Arbeláez
authors.forename: Blanca I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Restrepo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003105:Colombia; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D013621:Taenia
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth