Editing Cysticercosis (section)

==Diagnosis==
The traditional method of demonstrating either tapeworm eggs or [[proglottid]]s in stool samples diagnoses only taeniasis, carriage of the tapeworm stage of the life cycle.<ref name=CDC/> Only a small minority of patients with cysticercosis will harbor a tapeworm, rendering stool studies ineffective for diagnosis.<ref name="pmid9886197">{{cite journal|author1=HH Garcia |author2=R Araoz |author3=RH Gilman |author4=J Valdez |author5=AE Gonzalez |author6=C Gavidia |author7=ML Bravo |author8=VC Tsang | title=Increased prevalence of cysticercosis and taeniasis among professional fried pork vendors and the general population of a village in the Peruvian highlands. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru | journal=Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. | year=1998 | volume=59 | issue=6 | pages=902–905| pmid=9886197 |doi=10.4269/ajtmh.1998.59.902 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Ophthalmic cysticercosis can be diagnosed by visualizing parasite in eye by [[fundoscopy]].{{cn|date=November 2020}}

In cases of human cysticercosis, diagnosis is a sensitive problem and requires [[biopsy]] of the infected tissue or sophisticated instruments.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Richards F|first=Jr|author2=Schantz, PM |title=Laboratory diagnosis of cysticercosis.|journal=Clinics in Laboratory Medicine|volume=11|issue=4|pages=1011–28|pmid=1802519|year=1991|doi=10.1016/S0272-2712(18)30532-8}}</ref> ''Taenia solium'' eggs and proglottids found in feces, ELISA, or [[polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]] diagnose only taeniasis and not cysticercosis. Radiological tests, such as [[X-ray]], [[CT scan]]s which demonstrate "ring-enhancing brain lesions", and [[MRI]]s, can also be used to detect diseases. X-rays are used to identify calcified larvae in the subcutaneous and muscle tissues, and CT scans and MRIs are used to find lesions in the brain.<ref name=gut/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Webbe|first=G.|title=Human cysticercosis: Parasitology, pathology, clinical manifestations and available treatment|journal=Pharmacology & Therapeutics|volume=64|issue=1|pages=175–200|doi=10.1016/0163-7258(94)90038-8|pmid=7846114|year=1994}}</ref>

===Serological===
Antibodies to cysticerci can be demonstrated in serum by [[enzyme linked immunoelectrotransfer blot]] (EITB) assay and in CSF by ELISA. An immunoblot assay using lentil-lectin (agglutinin from Lens culinaris) is highly sensitive and specific. However, individuals with intracranial lesions and calcifications may be seronegative. In the CDC's immunoblot assay, cysticercosis-specific antibodies can react with structural glycoprotein antigens from the larval cysts of ''Taenia solium''.<ref name=CDC/> However, this is mainly a research tool not widely available in clinical practice and nearly unobtainable in resource limited settings.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Neurocysticercosis===
The diagnosis of neurocysticercosis is mainly clinical, based on a compatible presentation of symptoms and findings of imaging studies.{{cn|date=January 2021}}

====Imaging====
Neuroimaging with CT or MRI is the most useful method of diagnosis. CT scan shows both calcified and uncalcified cysts, as well as distinguishing active and inactive cysts. Cystic lesions can show [[Ring-enhancing lesion|ring enhancement]] and focal enhancing lesions. Some cystic lesions, especially the ones in ventricles and subarachnoid space may not be visible on CT scan, since the cyst fluid is [[Radiodensity|isodense]] with [[cerebrospinal fluid]] (CSF). Thus diagnosis of extraparenchymal cysts usually relies on signs like hydrocephalus or enhanced basilar meninges. In such cases CT scan with intraventricular contrast or MRI can be used. MRI is more sensitive in detection of intraventricular cysts.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Robbani|first1=I|last2=Razdan|first2=S|last3=Pandita|first3=KK|s2cid=15316095|title=Diagnosis of intraventricular cysticercosis by magnetic resonance imaging: improved detection with three-dimensional spoiled gradient recalled echo sequences.\|journal=Australasian Radiology|year=2004|volume=48|issue=2|pages=237–9|pmid=15230764|doi=10.1111/j.1440-1673.2004.01279.x}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lucato|first1=L.T.|last2=Guedes|first2=M.S.|last3=Sato|first3=J.R.|last4=Bacheschi|first4=L.A.|last5=Machado|first5=L.R.|last6=Leite|first6=C.C.|title=The Role of Conventional MR Imaging Sequences in the Evaluation of Neurocysticercosis: Impact on Characterization of the Scolex and Lesion Burden|journal=American Journal of Neuroradiology|date=1 September 2007|volume=28|issue=8|pages=1501–1504|doi=10.3174/ajnr.A0623|pmid=17846200|doi-access=free}}</ref>

====CSF====
CSF findings include [[pleocytosis]], elevated protein levels and depressed glucose levels; but these may not be always present.{{cn|date=November 2020}}