Species identification after treatment for human taeniasis

Cesar Jeri, Robert H. Gilman, Andres G. Lescano, Holger Mayta, Maria E. Ramirez, Armando E. Gonzalez, Rahim Nazerali, Hector H. Garcia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Identification of species of human tapeworms is crucial because the consequences of infection by Taenia solium and T saginata are very different. However, evacuation of species-identifiable tapeworms is uncommon and Taenia spp eggs are indistinguishable under the microscope. Treatment of taeniasis consists of niclosamide followed by a purgative. Recently, we adopted preniclosamide and postniclosamide electrolyte-polyethyleneglycol salt (EPS) purges to improve bowel cleaning. Retrospective comparison of traditional castor oil with EPS purge showed that recovery of the tapeworm scolex was significantly improved (20 of 68 vs none of 46, p=0·0001) in the EPS group. Furthermore, 42 of 68 (62%) individuals receiving EPS excreted identifiable gravid proglottids. EPS treatment helps the visual identification of Taenia spp.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)949-950
Number of pages2
JournalThe Lancet
Volume363
Issue number9413
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Mar 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
RHG, AGL, HM, AEG, and HHG are supported by research grants numbers P01 AI51976 and U01 AI35894 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, USA, and grant number 063109 from the Wellcome Trust. The sponsors had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.

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