Epidemiología de la cisticercosis humana en pacientes de consulta neurológica en Popayán, Cauca, Colombia / Epidemiology of human cisticercosis in patients attending neurology clinics in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia

ABSTRACT

Background: Teniosis/cysticercosis and/or neurocysticercosis is a parasitic zoonosis neglec-ted as a public health problem in developing countries, caused by Taenia solium. Objective:To determine the seroprevalence of human cysticercosis in patients treated in 2014 in the neurological consultation in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study including patients who came to the neurological consultation in Popayán. Five mL of blood were collected and consent was requested in order to conduct the present survey. Anti-Cysticercus antibodies against a protein fraction of 53 kDa on ELISA microplates was determined (sensitivity= 95.3% and specifi city= 100%) . Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v19. Results: 200 patients were evaluated with an average age of 41,49 years, 54% (108/200) showed with anti-Cysticercus antibodies and 53.2 % (25/47) had focal seizures and were seropositive. There was statistical signifi cance associated with vegetable consumption (P= 0,048). Conclusions: Our study indicates high seropositivities for human cysticercosis in patients registered in neurological consultation, which were higher than other Colombian and Latin American populations. It would be important to discuss with relevant authorities the inclu-sion of this parasitosis in institutional public health programs and policies pointing towards its control and eradication.