Population Screening for Urine Antigens to Detect Asymptomatic Subarachnoid Neurocysticercosis: A Pilot Study in Northern Peru

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Sep;103(3):1125-1128. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0196.

Abstract

Subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (SANCC) is a severe and progressive brain infection with Taenia solium. We performed a pilot study of noninvasive screening for SANCC in two endemic villages in northern Peru using a urine antigen screen followed by brain magnetic resonance imaging for participants with elevated levels of antigen. Among the 978 participants screened, we identified eight individuals with SANCC, many of whom were asymptomatic. This represents a minimum prevalence of 0.8% of SANCC, a level higher than expected based on prior studies, and a positive predictive value of 62% for our novel urine screening test. Future studies should confirm whether early detection and management improve clinical outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Helminth / urine*
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocysticercosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neurocysticercosis / epidemiology
  • Neurocysticercosis / parasitology
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Subarachnoid Space / immunology*
  • Taenia solium / immunology*
  • Taeniasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Taeniasis / epidemiology
  • Taeniasis / parasitology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Helminth