Seroprevalence of Neurocysticercosis among Epilepsy Patients in Chennai, Southern India-A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the leading cause of epilepsy in the developing world and is also the most common parasitic infection of the Central Nervous System (CNS). The disease is one of the "major neglected diseases" as per World Health Organisation (WHO). There is an immense burden of epilepsy in the developing countries like India, but little is known about its cause. Data regarding the prevalence of epilepsy due to NCC is unavailable in many regions in India though in some areas it is reported more frequently. Aim: To estimate the seroprevalence of NCC among epilepsy patients in Southern India. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, among epilepsy patients attending neurology clinic for a period of one year (August 2011-September 2012). All the participants were evaluated for NCC by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and detection of Taenia solium (T. solium) anticysticercal antibody by Enzyme Immuno Transfer Blot (EITB) and Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 19.0). Results: In the present study, of the 100 epilepsy cases studied, about 20% of the participants had MRI findings suggestive of NCC and colloidal vesicular stage was the most common stage (11%). Anti-cysticercal antibodies were detected in 27% by EITB and 16% by ELISA. However, there was no statistical significant association between seropositivity type of epilepsy and MRI findings. In comparison to EITB, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 59.3% and 90.4% respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggests that there has been an exposure of NCC in this population and hence this disease should be considered in all epilepsy cases for appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]