TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of antibodies against Taenia solium cysticerci among refugees resettled in United States
AU - O'Neal, Seth E.
AU - Townes, John M.
AU - Wilkins, Patricia P.
AU - Noh, John C.
AU - Lee, Deborah
AU - Rodriguez, Silvia
AU - Garcia, Hector H.
AU - Stauffer, William M.
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - 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 enzymelinked 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.
AB - 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 enzymelinked 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.
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U2 - 10.3201/eid1803.111367
DO - 10.3201/eid1803.111367
M3 - Article
C2 - 22377408
AN - SCOPUS:84863229417
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 18
SP - 431
EP - 438
JO - Emerging infectious diseases
JF - Emerging infectious diseases
IS - 3
ER -