Studies on Mesocestoides corti and Taenia crassiceps as models for cysticercosis Cornparison of brain and liver infection

Abstract

Infection with parasite helminthes is the main cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Most of larval cestodiases in humans are secondary to infection by cestodes of the family Taeniiadae. The infection of the central nervous system with the metacestodes of Taenia solium (Neurocysticercosis) is one of the most serious parasitic diseases. Recently, neurocysticercosis is considered the primary cause of epilepsy in the endemic countries. It is estimated that, 50 million people harbor the infection with an associated mortality of 50,000 per year.

The major aim of the present study is the use of two related Taeniidae metacestode larvae as models for cysticercosis infection. The first metacestode larvae is Mesocestoides corti was used as a model of granuloma formation in the liver and the second is the larval cestodes of Taenia crassiceps as a model for neurocysticercosis infection. The metacestodes ofT crassiceps and M corti are characterized by an unusual asexually dividing larval stage.