The process of residual calcification following antiparasitic treatment in the pig model of neurocysticercosis is dynamic.

IF 3.4 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Pub Date : 2025-05-05 eCollection Date: 2025-05-01 DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0013022

Gianfranco Arroyo, Laura Baquedano, Rosa Diaz-Gongora, Lizziee Tello-Ccente, Erick Castillo, Edson Bernal, Omar Gonzales-Viera, Robert H Gilman, Manuela R Verastegui, Theodore E Nash, Armando E Gonzalez, Hector H Garcia, Javier A Bustos

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Calcified neurocysticercosis (NCC), the end stage of brain cysts of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium is a common cause of epilepsy. Calcified NCC lesions are not inert and represent potential epileptogenic foci. Understanding the mechanisms of residual calcification in NCC is hindered by the difficulty of accessing human brain biopsies. Since cyst degeneration can be induced by antiparasitic treatment (APT) in NCC-infected pigs, this study assessed the residual calcification process in this model at three time points after APT.

Methods/principal findings: Fifteen naturally infected pigs with viable NCC confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging received APT with albendazole and praziquantel and were sacrificed after 4, 8, and 12 months (n = 5 each). The pigs' brains were removed and processed by ex vivo CT scan to assess the proportion of cysts that calcified by post-treatment time points using risk ratios (RR) from Poisson regression. Radiodensity levels (Hounsefield units) of calcified lesions were also measured and compared using linear coefficients from log-transformed values in generalized linear models. The overall proportion of residual calcification on CT scan was 63.9% (156 calcified lesions/244 viable cysts), being statistically higher in treated NCC pigs at 4 months (83.3% [50/60], RR = 2.61, P < 0.001) and 8 months (82.8% [77/93], RR = 2.59, P < 0.001) versus 12 months (31.9% [29/91]). At 8 months after APT, calcifications were more dense (100.6 ± 3.6 HU) compared to 12 months (74.4 ± 3.6 HU, β = 0.37, P = 0.010) and marginally higher compared to 4 months (85.2 ± 3.8 HU, β = 0.24, P = 0.096), and were also larger and more frequently found on histopathology.

Conclusion/significance: Calcification in NCC is a dynamic process that can be induced and monitored in naturally infected pigs. Eight months after treatment seems to be an optimal time point for assessing residual calcification.

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猪神经囊虫病模型抗寄生虫治疗后残余钙化过程是动态的。

背景：钙化神经囊虫病（NCC）是猪带绦虫脑囊肿的终末阶段，是癫痫的常见病因。钙化的NCC病变不是惰性的，代表潜在的癫痫灶。了解NCC中残留钙化的机制受到难以获得人脑活检的阻碍。由于抗寄生虫治疗（APT）可诱导NCC感染猪的囊变性，因此本研究评估了该模型在APT后三个时间点的残留钙化过程。方法/主要发现：15头经磁共振成像证实存在活细胞NCC的自然感染猪接受阿苯达唑和吡喹酮的APT治疗，并于4、8和12个月后处死（各n = 5）。将猪的大脑取出并进行离体CT扫描，利用泊松回归的风险比（RR）评估治疗后时间点钙化的囊肿比例。还测量了钙化病变的放射密度水平（豪斯菲尔德单位），并使用广义线性模型中对数转换值的线性系数进行了比较。CT扫描中残余钙化的总体比例为63.9%（156个钙化病灶/244个活囊），在4个月时NCC治疗猪中（83.3% [50/60],RR = 2.61， P）具有统计学意义(P)。结论/意义：NCC的钙化是一个动态过程，可以在自然感染的猪中诱导和监测。治疗后8个月似乎是评估残余钙化的最佳时间点。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases PARASITOLOGY-TROPICAL MEDICINE

自引率

10.50%

发文量

723

期刊介绍： PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases publishes research devoted to the pathology, epidemiology, prevention, treatment and control of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), as well as relevant public policy. The NTDs are defined as a group of poverty-promoting chronic infectious diseases, which primarily occur in rural areas and poor urban areas of low-income and middle-income countries. Their impact on child health and development, pregnancy, and worker productivity, as well as their stigmatizing features limit economic stability. All aspects of these diseases are considered, including: Pathogenesis Clinical features Pharmacology and treatment Diagnosis Epidemiology Vector biology Vaccinology and prevention Demographic, ecological and social determinants Public health and policy aspects (including cost-effectiveness analyses).