Causes of Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm
Human infection is caused by the ingestion of the eggs of the pork tapeworm (T. solium) through contaminated water or food.
Neurocysticercosis is a dangerous complication of the parasitic larvae (cysticercus) when it develops outside the intestinal tract.
The eggs of T.solium disintegrate and leaves the intestine through the portal venous system. They are dispersed throughout the body where they develop to form cysticerci.
Location of cysts in the body in the decreasing order of frequency are-
- The Central Nervous System
- Subcutaneous tissues and muscle
- Eye
- It rarely affects other tissues.
