title: Hydatid disease of the central nervous system: a review of literature with an emphasis on Latin American countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an up to date review of the epidemiology, etiology, treatment and prevention of hydatid cyst of the central nervous system, with an emphasis in South American countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the PubMed databases for articles containing the terms 'hydatid cyst' and 'nervous system'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found and reviewed 303 articles and their related references. We provide the available information on the pathology, life cycle and diagnostic modalities (laboratory tests and imaging) along with possible complications of the disease. Current treatment methods of hydatid cyst in the brain and spine are also being discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echinococcosis is a rare parasitic disease, endemic in some parts of South America. The epidemiology of echinococcosis is influenced by agricultural, educational, economic, medical and cultural factors. Human infestation occurs through the fecal-oral route. Infection of the central nervous system is rare, and the mainstay of treatment is surgical excision of the intracranial or spinal cyst, when present. Preventive programs should break the parasite life cycle and also educate the farmers in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA. nourbakhsh.ali@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nourbakhsh
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vannemreddy
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minagar
authors.forename: Eduardo González
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D002494:Central Nervous System Infections; D004443:Echinococcosis; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology