Solitary Neurocysticercosis Case Caused by Asian Genotype of Taenia solium Confirmed by Mitochondrial DNA Analysis

Abstract

A Japanese woman presenting with neurologic symptoms was presumptively diagnosed with neurocysticercosis based on imaging findings. Hooklets in the scolex of the resected lesion were not confirmed through histopathological observation. However, the illness was confirmed by mitochondrial DNA analysis to be a solitary neurocysticercosis case caused by the Asian genotype of Taenia solium.

Neurocysticercosis as Solitary Parenchymal Lesion Confirmed by Mitochondrial Deoxyribonucleic Acid Sequence Analysis-Case Report-

“…Polymerase chain reaction products were successfully amplified using primers. 14) The three nucleotides at positions 672, 690, and 723 are useful as diagnostic markers for the taeniid species or T. solium genotypes. The nucleotide at position 672 can differentiate taeniid species, and positions 690 and 723 can differentiate the two genotypes of T. solium.…”

“…Therefore, sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene of mitochondrial DNA was examined as described previously. 14) Briefly, the DNA sample was prepared from three paraffin-embedded sections using a DNA isolator kit (DNA Isolator PS Kit; Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Osaka), and was used directly as template DNA for the amplification of the cox1 gene. Polymerase chain reaction products were successfully amplified using primers.…”

“…1,3) The larvae can cause cyst formation in any tissue, including the central nervous system (CNS). Cysticercosis in the CNS, or neurocysticercosis, is a very common disease in Central and South America, Asia, and Africa, [1][2][3][4][5][6][9][10][11][12][13][14] although a few cases have been reported in Japan. 7,8) Patients with neurocysticercosis often present with varied and non-specific symptoms including seizures and focal neurological deficits.…”

“…5,6,9,10) Mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence analysis of the specimens can also provide a definitive diagnosis. 13,14) However, very few cases have been examined using these methods. 5,6,9,10,13,14) Here we present a case of neurocysticercosis identified by MR spectroscopy and confirmed as solitary parenchymal lesion caused by the Asian genotype of T. solium by mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis.…”

“…3) The clinical diagnosis of neurocysticercosis has been based on the patient history, radiographical findings, and pathological confirmation. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is also valuable for the diagnosis. However, T 1 -weighted MR imaging with gadolinium may show neurocysticercosis as a solitary parenchymal lesion, which cannot be differentiated from other solitary lesions including other types of parasites and tuberculosis.…”