Cysticercosis - Epidemiology

Epidemiology

The tapeworm that causes cysticercosis is endemic to many parts of the world including China, Southeast Asia, India, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Some studies suggest that the prevalence of cysticercosis in Mexico is between 3.1 and 3.9 percent. Other studies have found the seroprevalence in areas of Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru as high as 20 percent in humans, and 37 percent in pigs. In Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo around 10% of the population is infected, in Madagascar 16%. The frequency has decreased in developed countries owing to stricter meat inspection, better hygiene and better sanitary facilities. The distribution of cysticercosis coincides with the distribution of T. solium. Cysticercosis is the most common cause of symptomatic epilepsy worldwide.

In Latin America, an estimated 75 million persons live in endemic areas and 400,000 people have symptomatic disease. Cysticercosis is also found to be associated with Hispanic ethnicity, immigrant status, and exposure to areas of endemicity. In the US, the disease is found in immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America. Current livestock for pigs in the U.S do not play a role in the transmission of Taenia solium, and thus cysticercosis in the U.S is an imported disease.

In the USA during 1990–2002, 221 cysticercosis deaths were identified. Mortality rates were highest for Latinos and men. The mean age at death was 40.5 years (range 2–88). Most patients, 84.6%, were foreign born, and 62% had emigrated from Mexico. The 33 US-born persons who died of cysticercosis represented 15% of all cysticercosis-related deaths. The cysticercosis mortality rate was highest in California, which accounted for ˜60% of all deaths.