Taenia crassiceps injection into the subarachnoid space of rats simulates radiological and morphological features of racemose neurocysticercosis.
OBJECTIVE
Neurocysticercosis is a major public health concern. Although its eradication appears feasible, the disease remains endemic in developing countries and has emerged again in Europe and in the USA. Basic studies on neurocysticercosis are needed to better understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms and, consequently, to improve treatment perspectives. Much has been published on experimental parenchymal neurocysticercosis, but there are no experimental models of racemose neurocysticercosis.


METHODS
Cysts of Taenia crassiceps were injected into the subarachnoid space of 11 rats. After 4 months, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to verify the occurrence of ventricular dilatation and the distribution of cysts in the cerebrospinal fluid compartments. The histologic assessment was done focusing on changes in the ependyma, choroid plexus, and brain parenchyma.


RESULTS
MRI and histologic assessment confirmed the findings similar to those seen in human racemose neurocysticercosis including enlargement of the basal cisterns, hydrocephalus, and inflammatory infiltration through the ependyma and choroid plexus into cerebrospinal fluid spaces.


CONCLUSIONS
We developed a simple model of racemose neurocysticercosis by injecting cysts of T. crassiceps into the subarachnoid space of rats. This model can help understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the disease.
Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry; Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. pthamamotof@hotmail.com.
Pedro Tadao
PT
Hamamoto Filho
Unit of Experimental Research; Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Alexandre Todorovic
AT
Fabro
Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Institute of Biosciences, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Marianna Vaz
MV
Rodrigues
Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry; Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Rodrigo
R
Bazan
Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology; School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Luiz Carlos
LC
Vulcano
Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health; School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Germano Francisco
GF
Biondi
Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry; Botucatu Medical School, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Marco Antônio
MA
Zanini
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000069544:Infectious Encephalitis; D020019:Neurocysticercosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000473:pathology; D013621:Taenia
Cerebrospinal fluid; Experimental model; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurocysticercosis; Racemose neurocysticercosis