Public Health Implications of Cysticercosis Acquired in the United States

Cysticercosis has emerged as a cause of severe neurologic disease in the United States that primarily affects immigrants from Latin America.Moreover, the relevance of cysticercosis as a public health problem has been highlighted by local transmission.We searched the biomedical literature for reports documenting cases of cysticercosis acquired in the United States.A total of 78 cases, principally neurocysticercosis, were reported from 12 states during 1954-2005.A confi rmed or presumptive source of infection was identifi ed among household members or close personal contacts of 16 (21%) case-patients.Several factors, including the severe, potentially fatal, nature of cysticercosis; its fecal-oral route of transmission; the considerable economic effect; the availability of a sensitive and specifi c serologic test for infection by adult Taenia solium tapeworms; and the demonstrated ability to fi nd a probable source of infection among contacts, all provide a compelling rationale for implementation of public health control efforts.C ysticercosis, infection with the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is a known cause of illness and death in humans (1,2).Neurocysticercosis, the most serious form of the disease, occurs when larvae invade the central nervous system.The disease is dependent on Public Health Implications of Cysticercosis Acquired in the United States