"Diagnosis "
"Cerebral sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection of the brain by the second-stage larva of the tapeworm Spirometra mansoni, most commonly encountered in Southeast Asia, China and South America."
"Diagnosis is based on a detailed exposure history to Spirometra, detection of sparganosis-specific antibodies in serum or CSF, and characteristic imaging findings 3."
"Spirometra mansoni is a parasitic tapeworm that undergoes two intermediate host stages during its larval/asexual phase and a definitive host stage in its mature adult form."
"The definitive hosts are cats and dogs, which excrete Spirometra eggs in their faeces. These eggs hatch in water, and are ingested by the first intermediate hosts, copepods. The infected copepods are then consumed by secondary intermediate hosts such as snakes, fish, frogs, or, birds."
"The spirometra resides in the intestines and can can migrate beyond the intestines to various tissues, including the subcutaneous tissue, orbits, pleural and abdominal cavities, and the CNS 5."
Expected headings
"Diagnosis "
"Cerebral sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection of the brain by the second-stage larva of the tapeworm Spirometra mansoni, most commonly encountered in Southeast Asia, China and South America."
"Symptoms may include months to years of headache, seizure and neurological deficits 2,4."
"The spirometra resides in the intestines and can can migrate beyond the intestines to various tissues, including the subcutaneous tissue, orbits, pleural and abdominal cavities, and the CNS 5."