title: High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Neurocysticercosis in an Endemic Rural Community in Peru.
abstract: Neurocysticercosis is a common helminthic infection of the central nervous system and an important cause of adult-onset epilepsy in endemic countries. However, few studies have examined associations between neurologic symptoms, serology and radiographic findings on a community-level.
  
  
  
  We conducted a population-based study of resident's ≥2 years old in a highly endemic village in Peru (pop. 454). We applied a 14 -question neurologic screening tool and evaluated serum for antibodies against Taenia solium cysticercosis using enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (LLGP-EITB). We invited all residents ≥18 years old to have non-contrast computerized tomography (CT) of the head.
  
  
  
  Of the 385 residents who provided serum samples, 142 (36.9%) were seropositive. Of the 256 residents who underwent CT scan, 48 (18.8%) had brain calcifications consistent with NCC; 8/48 (17.0%) reported a history of headache and/or seizures. Exposure to T. solium is very common in this endemic community where 1 out of 5 residents had brain calcifications. However, the vast majority of people with calcifications were asymptomatic.
  
  
  
  This study reports a high prevalence of NCC infection in an endemic community in Peru and confirms that a large proportion of apparently asymptomatic residents have brain calcifications that could provoke seizures in the future.
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Elimination Program and Center for Global Heath - Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Tumbes, Peru.|UMR 1094 Inserm Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale (NET), Institut d'Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale (IENT), Faculté de Médecine de l'Université de Limoges, Limoges, France.|Epidemiology Unit, Hospital Regional II-2 Tumbes, Tumbes, Peru.
authors.forename: Luz M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5878-5782
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Moyano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America.
authors.forename: Seth E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Neal
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Elimination Program and Center for Global Heath - Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Tumbes, Peru.
authors.forename: Viterbo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ayvar
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Elimination Program and Center for Global Heath - Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Tumbes, Peru.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonzalvez
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Elimination Program and Center for Global Heath - Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Tumbes, Peru.|Epidemiology Unit, Hospital Regional II-2 Tumbes, Tumbes, Peru.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Elimination Program and Center for Global Heath - Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Tumbes, Peru.|Epidemiology Unit, Hospital Regional II-2 Tumbes, Tumbes, Peru.
authors.forename: Percy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vilchez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reistetter
authors.affiliation: Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Victor C W
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Armando E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Elimination Program and Center for Global Heath - Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Tumbes, Peru.|Instituto de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima, Peru.|Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Hector H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth