Ocular Cysticercosis

Abstract

Cysticercosis is the most common ocular tapeworm infection. It is caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larval form of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Human becomes infected by drinking contaminated water or eating food containing the eggs of Taenia solium (Chatterjee 1976; Duke-Elder 1978; Kaliaperumal et al. 2005). The most common form of systemic involvement is neurocysticercosis. Ocular and adnexal cysticercosis represents 13–46% of systemic disease (Duke-Elder 1978; Kaliaperumal et al. 2005). Cysticerci can remain quiescent in the eye for up to 5 years. Cysticercosis has a worldwide distribution (Kaliaperumal et al. 2005; Madigubba et al. 2007). It is common in India, Mexico, South East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and South and Central America. It is rare in Great Britain and the United States. Risk factors include poverty and poor sanitation, both of which promote faecal–oral transmission of disease. Although there is no gender or racial predilection, patients are relatively young, and the disease is usually unilateral. Involvement of the left eye seems to be more common than the right eye (Madigubba et al. 2007; Atul et al. 1995).