Cysticercosis research in epileptic patients dwelling in towns of the western Cariri in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

This research involved a sample of 110 epileptic patients from western Cariri, Paraíba, Brazil and it has been developed in three successive phases. During the first one, an epidemiological form was applied with the aim of identifying risk factors related to the taeniasis cysticercosis complex in the etiology of the patients' epilepsy. The second phase consisted of immunological exams of 110 patients, by means of the EITB technique to identify the anti-cysticerci serum antibodies, whereas the presence of circulating antigens was verified through the ELISA technique. In the third phase, thirteen patients who were seropositive, were submitted to brain CT scan. Applying the questionnaire enabled us to know some risk factors. The seroprevalence detected was 118.2/1000 inhabitants. Out of the 13 seropositive patients for cysticercosis, 46.1% presented parenchymal cysticercotic damage. Based on these results, we are able to conclude that the studied towns reveal an epidemiological profile which is compatible with the occurrence of the taeniasis cysticercosis complex and cysticercosis plays an important role in the sprouting of epilepsy in these patients.