title: Seroprevalence of antibodies against Taenia solium cysticerci among refugees resettled in United States.
abstract: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a disease caused by central nervous system infection by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. In developing countries, NCC is a leading cause of adult-onset epilepsy. Case reports of NCC are increasing among refugees resettled to the United States and other nations, but the underlying prevalence among refugee groups is unknown. We tested stored serum samples from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Migrant Serum Bank for antibodies against T. solium cysts by using the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot. Seroprevalence was high among all 4 populations tested: refugees from Burma (23.2%), Lao People's Democratic Republic (18.3%), Bhutan (22.8%), and Burundi (25.8%). Clinicians caring for refugee populations should suspect NCC in patients with seizure, chronic headache, or unexplained neurologic manifestations. Improved understanding of the prevalence of epilepsy and other associated diseases among refugees could guide recommendations for their evaluation and treatment before, during, and after resettlement.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. oneals@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Seth E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Neal
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Townes
authors.forename: Patricia P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Hector H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Stauffer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D003552:Cysticercus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D012036:Refugees; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth