A patient with epilepsy from a rural endemic area has multiple small calcified lesions in the brain on CT. Serology shows positive ELISA for cysticercal antibody. Which tapeworm stage is responsible for neurocysticercosis?

• A Adult Taenia solium in the small intestine
• B Cysticercus cellulosae (larval stage of Taenia solium) in the CNS ✓
• C Cysticercus bovis (larval stage of Taenia saginata) in the CNS
• D Hydatid cyst of Echinococcus in the CNS

Explanation

Neurocysticercosis is caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larval (cysticercus) stage of Taenia solium, when humans accidentally ingest T. solium eggs (acting as intermediate hosts instead of definitive hosts). Taenia saginata larvae (C. bovis) do not cause human CNS disease. Adult T. solium causes only intestinal taeniasis. Echinococcus causes hydatid cysts with a different morphology and serology. Treatment is albendazole with anti-inflammatory cover (dexamethasone).

Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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