{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Neurocysticercosis Prevalence and Characteristics in Communities of Sinda District in Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Study.
{Author}: Zulu G;Stelzle D;Gabriël S;Trevisan C;Van Damme I;Mubanga C;Schmidt V;Ngowi BJ;Welte TM;Magnussen P;Ruether C;Fleury A;Dorny P;Bottieau E;Phiri IK;Mwape KE;Winkler AS; ;
{Journal}: J Epidemiol Glob Health
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 9
{Factor}: 5.959
{DOI}: 10.1007/s44197-024-00271-z
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>This study aimed at describing the epidemiology of (neuro)cysticercosis as well as its clinical and radiological characteristics in a Taenia solium endemic district of Zambia.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>This was part of a cross-sectional community-based study conducted in Sinda district to evaluate an antibody-detecting T. solium point-of-care (TS POC) test for taeniosis and (neuro)cysticercosis. All TS POC cysticercosis positive (CC+) participants and a subset of the TS POC cysticercosis negative (CC-) received a clinical evaluation and cerebral computed tomography (CT) examination for neurocysticercosis (NCC) diagnosis and staging.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Of the 1249 participants with a valid TS POC test result, 177 (14%) were TS POC CC+ . Cysticercosis sero-prevalence was estimated to be 20.1% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 14.6-27.0%). In total, 233 participants received a CT examination (151 TS POC CC+ , 82 TS POC CC-). Typical NCC lesions were present in 35/151 (23%) TS POC CC+ , and in 10/82 (12%) TS POC CC- participants. NCC prevalence was 13.5% (95% CI 8.4-21.1%) in the study population and 38.0% (95% CI 5.2-87.4%) among people reporting epileptic seizures. Participants with NCC were more likely to experience epileptic seizures (OR = 3.98, 95% CI 1.34-11.78, p = 0.01) than those without NCC, although only 7/45 (16%) people with NCC ever experienced epileptic seizures. The number of lesions did not differ by TS POC CC status (median: 3 [IQR 1-6] versus 2.5 [IQR 1-5.3], p = 0.64). Eight (23%) of the 35 TS POC CC+ participants with NCC had active stage lesions; in contrast none of the TS POC CC- participants was diagnosed with active NCC.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>NCC is common in communities in the Eastern province of Zambia, but a large proportion of people remain asymptomatic.